Is there still a place for vitrectomy in the treatment of macular edema due to venous occlusion ?

Purpose Persistent macular edema (ME) is the main cause of poor visual outcome in either non‐ischemic BRVO or CRVO. Among multiples treatment approaches, vitreoretinal surgery with the goal to achieve the recanalisation of the occluded vessels and/or the resolution of ME, were proposed. Methods Vitrectomy with peeling of the posterior hyaloid and/or the internal limiting membrane,asociated to intravitreal (IVT) triamcinolone , neurotomy, sheathotomy, intravascular rtPA injection were studied in numerous nonrandomized cases series. Results Pars plana vitrectomy has been shown to reduce macular oedema and restore the normal foveal contour without significant change in best corrected visual acuity. In contrast, visual improvement occurs after vitrectomy for vitreous haemorrhage, epiretinal membrane formation and retinal detachment complicating BRVO. Evidence to date does not support any therapeutic benefit from radial optic neurotomy, optic nerve decompression, arteriovenous crossing sheathotomy or intravascular rtPA. Vitrectomy combined with IVT triamcinolone, induces a ME decrease rapidly and durably, without any improvement in visual acuity. Conclusion Vitrectomy with IVT triamcinolne seems to have a more durable effect than IVT triamcinolone alone.Vitrectomy, A‐V sheathotomy combined with intravenous t‐PA may offer benefits in BRVO. Despite uncertainty and open questions, surgical interventions are likely to be a therapeutic option for RVO in the future. Randomized and controlled studies are needed to confirm these results and to compare them to the natural course of the disease.