Clinical outcomes of primary vitrectomy in pseudophakic retinal detachment

Abstract

PURPOSE. To evaluate the efficacy of primary pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) for rhematogenous retinal detachment (RD) in pseudophakic eyes. MATERIALS AND METHODS. The medical records of 63 patients who had undergone PPV after phacoemulsification were reviewed retrospectively. The mean follow-up period was 10 months. Statistical analysis evaluated functional and anatomical results as well as general (diabetes, hypertension) and ocular (myopia, glaucoma, floppy iris syndrome, intraoperative complications during cataract surgery, YAG capsulotomy) conditions. RESULTS. The median period from cataract surgery to RD onset was 15 months. Retinal attachment was achieved in 92% of eyes. The final visual acuities were improved significantly from 1.7 logMAR to 0.7 logMAR. Silicon oil was used as a tamponade in 38 eyes and SF6 gas in 25 eyes. Better functional results were achieved with SF6 gas tamponade. No intraoperative complications were reported. Most of the patients were males (71%). Statistical analysis revealed that general and ocular conditions did not influence functional results. CONCLUSIONS. Primary PPV, especially with gas as a tamponade, is an effective procedure in the surgical treatment of pseudophakic RD. The advantages include good anatomical and functional outcomes and low complication rate. Neither clinical nor surgical factors have been identified as responsible for the visual outcomes.