AIM: To compare the treatment efficacy of vitrectomy with macular epiretinal membrane(MEM)peeling combined with or without air tamponade for idiopathic macular epiretinal membranes(IMEM).

METHODS: Forty-two cases of IMEM patients(46 eyes)associated with cataract were randomly divided into two groups. Twenty-five eyes of 23 cases in Group A were performed with vitrectomy with macular epiretinal membrane peeling combined with air tamponade. The other 21 eyes of 19 cases in Group B only underwent vitrectomy and macular epiretinal membrane peeling(without air tamponade). The visual acuity and central macular thickness(CMT)were compared between the two groups before and after the surgery. The intraoperative and postoperative complications were also observed in both groups in the mean time.

RESULTS: There was no statistical significant difference between two groups in age, visual acuity and CMT before operation(P>0.05). By 1wk, 3 and 6mo follow-up after operation, mean visual acuity improved significantly; mean CMT decreased obviously in both groups after the operation and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05). But for mean visual acuity and CMT, there were not statistically significant difference between two groups postoperatively at the same time(P>0.05),there was no correlation between postoperative mean visual acuity and CMT in the two groups. No serious complications occurred during and after operation.

CONCLUSION: Vitrectomy with macular epiretinal membrane peeling can be a safe and effective treatment for IMEM, meanwhile air tamponade in vitreous cavity does not reveal more advantages in the treatment.