Surgical therapy of diabetic retinopathy has been refined since the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS). ETDRS did not perform panretinal photocoagulation at the time of surgery, which is currently considered a major part of vitrectomy, e.g., in vitreous hemorrhage. Despite improved surgical techniques, patient expectations and surgical outcome still differ considerably in severe cases of proliferative diabetic retinopathy. In this review of the literature we discuss the current surgical options and indications in diabetic retinopathy and maculopathy.
