Abstract
Background The effect of air tamponade among patients undergoing vitrectomy with membrane peeling
for removal of epiretinal membranes (ERM) is controversially discussed. The aim of
the present study was to analyze differences in outcomes between air tamponade and
balanced salt solution (BSS) in a study population with preoperative intraretinal
cystoid changes.
Patients and Methods This randomized study included patients scheduled for pars plana vitrectomy with
membrane peeling owing to ERM and intraretinal cystoid changes. Air tamponade or
BSS at the end of surgery was applied according to preoperative randomization. Optical
coherence tomography and best-corrected distance visual acuity (DCVA) measurements
were performed
before surgery, 5 days after surgery, and 3 months after surgery.
Results From 96 patients included, 85 eyes had full follow-up and could be included for analysis.
Median improvement of DCVA was + 16 EDTRS letters (IQR: 8 to 22) among patients with
BSS, while it was + 13 EDTRS letters (IQR: 8 to 17) among patients with air tamponade.
There was a trend for better improvement of DCVA when BSS was left at the end of surgery,
compared to
air tamponade, but not reaching statistical significance.
Conclusions There were no statistically significant differences concerning resorption of preoperative
intraretinal cystoid changes, improvement of visual acuity, and final DVCA
between air tamponade and BSS.
Key words air tamponade - epiretinal membranes - vitrectomy with membrane peeling - intraretinal
cystoid changes
