OBJECTIVETo assess efficacy of membrane peeling combined with intravitreal injection of bevacizumab in the treatment of macular epiretinal membrane.

METHODSFrom January, 2012 to June, 2013, 33 patients (33 eyes) with the diagnosis of macular epiretinal membrane underwent vitreous surgery and membrane peeling. The patients were randomly divided into intravitreal bevacizumab group (IVB group) and non-intravitreal bevacizumab group (non-IVB group). All the patients underwent standard three-port vitrectomy and peeling of epiretinal membrane, with intravitreal injection of 1.5 mg bevacizumab at the end of operation in IVB group. The best corrected visual acuity and optical coherence tomography (OCT) were examined before and after the treatment. The patients were followed up for 3-14 months (mean 6.5 months).

RESULTSMacular epiretinal membranes were successfully peeled during operation in all the patients without postoperative intraocular infection or bleeding. Fifteen eyes received vitrectomy combined with intravitreal injection of bevacizumab, and 18 underwent only vitreous operation and membrane peeling. At the end of the follow up, the visual acuity improved in 11 eyes (73.3%) in IVB group, as compared to 13 eyes (72.2%) in the non-IVB group (P=0.627). Central macular thickness decreased by 143∓62 µm in IVB group and by 96∓28 µm in non-IVB group, showing a significant difference between the two groups (t=5.564, P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONVitrectomy and membrane peeling combined with intravitreal injection of bevacizumab can promote the recovery of macular morphology but not visual function, and its clinical use still needs to be tested in a long-term and large-sample randomized controlled study.