Macular Edema, Pseudophakic (Irvine-Gass) Follow-up
- Author: David G Telander, MD, PhD; Chief Editor: Hampton Roy Sr, MD more...
Further Outpatient Care
- Patients with cystoid macular edema (CME) are treated on an outpatient basis with regular follow-up visits to monitor for any signs of clinical improvement.
- If steroids are used as a treatment, it is critical to closely monitor intraocular pressure, as glaucoma is a serious complication.
Deterrence/Prevention
- The risk of cystoid macular edema (CME) can be decreased by avoiding intraoperative complications, such as posterior capsule rupture, vitreous loss, vitreous to the wound, iris prolapse, or dislocated lens.
- Preoperative NSAIDs may decrease the incidence of CME associated with cataract surgery.
Complications
- Persistent macular edema or multiple remissions and exacerbations can result in foveolar photoreceptor damage with permanent impairment of vision.
Prognosis
- The prognosis is variable. Pseudophakic CME typically has the best prognosis, with 90% of eyes improving to 20/40 or better visual acuity. Other cases of CME can be chronic, requiring long-term treatment.
Patient Education
- For excellent patient education resources, visit eMedicine's Eye and Vision Center. Also, see eMedicine's patient education article How to Instill Your Eyedrops.
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