title: Long-term results of excision of plaque-like foveal hard exudates in patients with chronic diabetic macular oedema.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyse the long-term results of surgical removal of plaque-like diabetic foveal hard exudates.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this retrospective, interventional, non-randomized, controlled study, vitrectomy and excision of submacular hard exudates was performed on 11 eyes of 11 patients with plaque-like hard exudates. The mean preoperative LogMAR best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and exudate diameter were 1.35+/-0.3 and 1.19 disks (range, 0.5-1.8), respectively. In the control group, which consisted of 10 eyes of 7 patients who refused the surgery, baseline mean BCVA and exudate diameter were 1.06+/-0.2 and 1.2 disks (range, 0.7-2.0), respectively. Main outcome measures included BCVA, fundus photography, and surgical complications.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean follow-up was 39.1+/-3.2 months for the study group and 32.5+/-3.6 months for the control group. In the study group, BCVA improved in 8 (73%) eyes at the final examination. The mean final BCVA was 1.08+/-0.4 (P=0.021). Macular oedema and exudates resolved completely in all eyes. In the control group, final LogMAR visual acuity declined to 1.53+/-0.1 (P=0.005). Macular pigment epithelium atrophy or scar formation was observed in 7 (64%) eyes in the study group and in all eyes in the control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Surgical excision of plaque-like foveal hard exudates resulted in better anatomical and functional outcome when compared to observation alone.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Uludag University School of Medicine, Bursa, Turkey. ravci@uludag.edu.tr
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Avci
authors.forename: U U
authors.initials: UU
authors.lastname: Inan
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kaderli
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D005122:Exudates and Transudates; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005584:Fovea Centralis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008269:Macular Edema / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010857:Pigment Epithelium of Eye / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity