Outcomes of vitrectomy in severe complications of proliferative diabetic retinopathy

Abstract

INTRODUCTION. The aim of our study is to describe the anatomical and functional results of pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) among diabetic patients treated due to tractional retinal detachment (TRD) or non-clearing vitreous haemorrhage (VH). MATERIALS AND METHODS. A retrospective analysis was made of clinical data of 45 eyes treated with 23G PPV for TRD (17 eyes) or VH (28 eyes). Preoperative and final visual outcomes and postoperative complications were recorded. The mean follow-up period was 12 months. RESULTS. The postoperative visual acuity (VA) improved significantly in 60% of eyes, but remained unchanged or was worse in 40%. Improvement of VA was more pronounced in the VH group. PPV was performed with silicone oil tamponade in 66.5%, air tamponade in 29%, and gas tamponade in 4.5%. Postoperative complications included: retinal re-detachment (seven eyes), secondary glaucoma (nine eyes), and recurrent VH (two eyes). CONCLUSIONS. PPV is an effective treatment method of complications of severe proliferative diabetic retinopathy inter alia the TRD and VH. Because surgical management of TRD and VH is demanding, anatomical and functional results are limited by complications.