Optical cross-sectional observation of resolved diabetic macular edema associated with vitreomacular separation.

PURPOSE

To describe the resolution of cystoid macular edema associated with vitreomacular separation in a diabetic patient.

METHODS

Case report. A 58-year-old man who had cataract surgery 3 years earlier developed diabetic macular edema after panretinal laser photocoagulation. For a detailed fundus examination, we performed neodymium: YAG (Nd:YAG) laser capsulotomy in the left eye as the initial management.

RESULTS

Two days after the laser capsulotomy, fundus biomicroscopy and B-mode ultrasonography disclosed a vitreomacular separation in the left eye that was not detectable preoperatively. Optical coherence tomography through the macula disclosed a dramatic decrease in the size of intraretinal cystoid spaces with an improvement of visual acuity. Scanning retinal thickness analysis also confirmed the decrease of retinal thickness at the macula with the resolution of cystoid macular edema.

CONCLUSION

Resolution of diabetic macular edema with subsequent visual recovery is potentially associated with the vitreomacular separation in a patient after Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy.