Diabetic patients who received a subconjunctival injection with triamcinolone acetonide at the end of cataract surgery had a lower macular thickness and macular volume at 6 and 12 weeks postoperatively than patients who did not. Intravitreal bevacizumab had no significant effect.

There is strong evidence that preoperative intraretinal cystoid changes lead to smaller benefit from surgery.

No abstract

<b><i>Purpose:</i></b> Epiretinal membrane is a macular disorder leading to metamorphopsia and decreased visual acuity. The aim of the present study was to assess the possible effects of air tamponade, balanced salt solution (BSS), and combined phacoemulsification on functional and anatomical outcomes. <b><i>Procedures:</i></b> This prospective exploratory analysis included 72 eyes with idiopathic epiretinal membranes, scheduled to undergo 23-G pars plana vitrectomy with membrane peeling. Air tamponade or BSS was used in all cases. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging was performed intraoperatively, and follow-up including visual acuity testing and OCT measurements was conducted until 3 months postoperatively. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Mean best-corrected visual acuity improved between +2.1 and +3.1 letters, and mean central subfield thickness of the macula decreased between –29.6 and –76 µm in the examined groups, without significant differences between the air tamponade and BSS groups. There was no significant difference in the presence of intraretinal cystoid changes between the groups. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> The use of air tamponade did not show any significant differences in the anatomical and functional postoperative results compared to BSS. Furthermore, phacovitrectomy did not result in significantly more intraretinal cystoid changes 3 months after surgery.