The effect of internal limiting membrane peeling on chronic recalcitrant pseudophakic cystoid macular edema: a report of two cases.

Purpose: To describe the effect of internal limiting membrane peeling in chronic recalcitrant pseudophakic cystoid macular edema.

Design: Two interventional case reports.

Methods: Two consecutive patients with chronic pseudophakic cystoid macular edema of 11-22 months duration, after uncomplicated cataract surgery, unresponsive to previous treatment, were enrolled. The surgical technique consisted of pars plana vitrectomy and internal limiting membrane peeling. Main outcome measures included best-corrected visual acuity, biomicroscopic appearance, and perifoveal leakage on fluorescein angiography. Optical coherence tomography scans were performed postoperatively.

Results: Pars plana vitrectomy with internal limiting membrane peeling resulted in anatomical, angiographic, and functional improvement in both patients, for total follow-up periods of 8 and 11 months, respectively.

Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first report of chronic pseudophakic cystoid macular edema that favorably responded to pars plana vitrectomy with internal limiting membrane peeling, as concluded after a MEDLINE search.