THE IMPORTANCE OF REMOVING THE INNER BOUNDARY MEMBRANE IN THE TREATMENT OF DIABETIC MACULAR EDEMA: A SERIES OF CLINICAL CASES

Vitreoretinal surgery (VRH) is recognized as the preferred method of treating diabetic macular edema (DMO), concomitant with additional pathology of the vitreomacular interface (VMI). Empirical data obtained as a result of numerous studies give contradictory results, therefore, the need for peeling of the internal limiting membrane (VPM) remains unresolved. Purpose. To find out the results of surgical intervention in patients with DMO as a result of epimacular fibrosis (EMF) by comparing cases with and without HPV peeling. Materials and methods. This manuscript presents a comparative assessment of three clinical cases. The patients had similar clinical manifestations and historical medical data. In all cases, patients underwent HRH for DMO combined with EMF. In two cases, the VPM was peeled, and in the third case, the VPM was preserved. Results. An analysis of the observational data and an assessment of anatomical and functional parameters revealed complications in the first and second patients at the late postoperative stage, while in the third patient the condition stabilized. Conclusion. The presented clinical cases show that anatomical and functional results are not always correlated. The increased risk of complications associated with a violation of the architecture and functionality of the retina during peeling requires a critical assessment of the clinical justification of this method.