Materials and Methods: Seventeen eyes of 16 patients (6F, 10M) that underwent 23 g-PPV from February 2011 to March 2013 for diabetes related VMT were analyzed retrospectively. Beside the demographic information, preoperative and postoperative complete ophthalmic examination, surgical techniques and complications were obtained from the patient files. Preoperative and last postoperative OCT images were analyzed.

Results: The mean age of patients was 71.4±5.1 years. The mean follow-up was 16.0±8.8 months . Average corrected visual acuity (CVA) was 1.01±0.4 (logMAR) preoperatively and 0.67±0.34 (p<0.001) at last follow-up. A mean of 3.4±2.8 line visual acuity improvement was recorded. The mean central macular thickness was 484±150 um preoperatively and 292 ±110μm at final examination (p<0.001). There was a positive correlation between final CVA and preoperative CVA.(r=0.733, p=0.001). Visual acuity improvement was found significantly higher in eyes without internal limiting membrane peeling (ILM), (N=6) compared to eyes with ILM peeling (N=11), (5.2 and 2.5 respectively ), (p=0.037). Final OCT findings showed lamellar hole in 2 eyes and retinal atrophy in 4 eyes with ILM peeling, while epiretinal membrane occured in 2 eyes without ILM peeling.

Conclusion: Functional and anatomical success was achieved in diabetic VMT patients following 23G-PPV. Functional success was significantly better in patients without ILM peeling. ILM peeling techniques need to be improved for less traumatic microsurgeries. Keywords : Diabetic vitreomacular traction, 23 gauge pars plana vitrectomy, internal limiting membrane peeling and optical coherence tomography