[On the role of the posterior hyaloid membrane in the pathogenesis of and surgery for proliferative diabetic retinopathy].

A total of 278 patients subjected to transciliary vitrectomy for proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) were followed up. Thirty preparations of epiretinal membranes removed in surgery were examined under an optic microscope. Vessels newly forming in PDR were found to grow mainly along the external surface of the posterior hyaloid membrane; they ceased their growth after its removal. The posterior hyaloid membrane is the anatomical object of surgical intervention of PDR. The proliferative form of diabetic retinopathy is never seen in the presence of a naturally occurring or vitrectomy-induced complete posterior hyaloid detachment, that is why if the posterior hyaloid membrane is well detached from the retina in the course of operation, panretinal laser coagulation in the postoperative period is not recommended.