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Abstract Purpose To investigate the effects of vitrectomy and intravitreal dexamethasone (DEX) implantation on retinal biomarkers in patients with advanced idiopathic epiretinal membrane (IERM) and to evaluate this treatment’s anatomical and functional outcomes. Methods This retrospective study included 41 patients with advanced IERM who underwent vitrectomy and were divided into a pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) group (20 eyes) and a dexamethasone (DEX) group (21 eyes) based on intravitreal DEX implantation. We collected data on best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central macular thickness (CMT), disorganization of the retinal inner layers (DRIL), subretinal fluid, intraretinal cystoid changes (IRC), integrity of the inner-outer segment layer, and intraocular pressure. Results BCVA improved significantly in both groups; the DEX group had a higher visual acuity gain at 1 and 6 months (P = 0.002 and 0.023, respectively). Postoperative CMT gradually decreased in both groups, with the DEX group showing a greater decrease at 1 and 6 months (P = 0.009 and 0.033, respectively). Six months after surgery, the DRIL and IRC grades in the DEX group were significantly improved compared to those in the PPV group (P = 0.037 and 0.038, respectively). Multivariate regression analyses revealed that patients with intraoperative DEX implants were more likely to have a significant CMT reduction (≥ 100 μm) from baseline (odds ratio (OR), 9.44; 95% confidence intervals (CI), 1.58–56.56; P = 0.014) at 6 months and less likely to exhibit DRIL at 6 months postoperatively (OR, 0.08; 95% CI, 0.01–0.68; P = 0.021). Conclusion Vitrectomy combined with intravitreal DEX implantation facilitates the recovery of postoperative visual acuity and improvement of anatomical outcomes in patients with advanced IERM, effectively reducing CMT and improving DRIL.

Abstract Background Diabetic macular edema (DME) is the main cause of vision loss in diabetic patients. Currently, anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) intravitreal injection stands as the first-line therapy for DME. However, some patients exhibit insufficient response to anti-VEGF agents and often require multiple injections, imposing psychological and economic burdens. While microinvasive pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) has been shown to be safe and effective in treating refractory DME, scant research has explored its application to treatment-naïve DME. The purpose of this study is to determine whether early PPV combined with internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling can lessen the therapeutic burden of DME patients, prevent vision loss, and maintain long-term stabilization of diabetic retinopathy. Methods This is a single-center, prospective, parallel-group, non-inferiority randomized controlled trial involving 102 DME participants. Participants will be randomly assigned to either the study group (PPV combined with ILM peeling) or the control group (conbercept intravitreal injection (IVC)) at a 1:1 ratio, with a scheduled follow-up at 12 months post-operation. Comparative analysis of results between the two groups will be conducted at months 1, 3, 6, and 12 after the intervention. The primary outcomes involve evaluating the changes in central subfield thickness (CST) and best corrected visual acuity (BCVA). The secondary outcomes include assessment of optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography (OCTA) biomarkers, re-treatment and adverse events rates, diabetic retinopathy (DR) development, cost-effectiveness analysis, and vision-related quality of life (VRQL). Discussion Some patients do not respond well to anti-VEGF drugs and repeated intravitreal injections increase the treatment burden for patients. The VVV study aims to explore whether PPV combined with ILM peeling could become an initial treatment option for treatment-naïve DME patients. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05728476. Registered on 15 February 2023.

PurposeThis study aimed to investigate the safety and efficacy of three-dimensional (3D) surgical video systems for proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR).MethodsThis retrospective clinical case study included 30 patients (30 eyes) with PDR. Patients were divided into two groups: one underwent surgery using a 3D surgical video system (14 cases, 14 eyes), while the other underwent traditional microscope surgery (16 cases, 16 eyes). Safety and efficacy were assessed through predetermined surgical parameters, including surgical duration, intraoperative membrane removal rate, and occurrences during intraoperative and postoperative phases.ResultsOur study revealed noteworthy differences in various aspects between the 3D surgical video system group and the traditional microscope surgery group. Specifically, the mean surgical time was 30.25 ± 14.43 mins in the 3D surgical video system group, while it was 38.56 ± 18.71 mins in the traditional microscope surgery group (p = 0.051). Furthermore, the mean membrane removal time was significantly shorter in the 3D group at 2.53 ± 1.52 mins, as compared to 3.23 ± 1.76 mins in the traditional group (p = 0.042). Importantly, the membrane removal rate also displayed a significant difference, with the 3D group at 0.55 ± 0.07 and the traditional group at 0.41 ± 0.11 (p = 0.018). However, no notable differences were observed between the two groups in terms of intraoperative and postoperative incidences.ConclusionThe safety and efficacy obtained using the 3D surgical video system in PDR surgery were comparable to those obtained in traditional microscopic surgery.

PurposeWe aimed to evaluate the risk factors and develop a prognostic nomogram of long-term low vision after diabetic vitrectomy.MethodsThis retrospective study included 186 patients (250 eyes) that underwent primary vitrectomy for proliferative diabetic retinopathy with a minimum follow-up period of one year. Patients were assigned to the training cohort (200 eyes) or validation cohort (50 eyes) at a 4:1 ratio randomly. Based on a cutoff value of 0.3 in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) measurement, the training cohort was separated into groups with or without low vision. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed on preoperative systemic and ocular characteristics to develop a risk prediction model and nomogram. The calibration curve and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUC) were used to evaluate the calibration and discrimination of the model. The nomogram was internally validated using the bootstrapping method, and it was further verified in an external cohort.ResultsFour independent risk factors were selected by stepwise forward regression, including tractional retinal detachment (β=1.443, OR=4.235, P