Intraocular cysticercosis: clinical characteristics and visual outcome after vitreoretinal surgery

PURPOSE: To report the clinical characteristics of, discuss the surgical options for, and analyze the factors affecting the anatomic and visual outcome of intraocular cysticercosis. DESIGN: Retrospective, noncomparative, interventional case series. PARTICIPANTS: Forty-five eyes of 44 Indian patients with posterior segment intraocular cysticercosis. METHODS: The charts of 45 eyes, in which intraocular cysticercosis was removed by vitreoretinal surgery (either transscleral or transvitreal), were reviewed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: These included the postoperative retinal status and the best-corrected Snellen visual acuity. RESULTS: Intraocular cysticercosis was present in the vitreous cavity of 27 eyes (60%) and in the subretinal space of 18 eyes (40%). Anterior segment inflammation was seen in 13 eyes (28.8%) and vitreous inflammation in 38 eyes (84.4%). Retinal detachment was observed in 22 eyes (48.8%), with proliferative vitreoretinopathy in 13 eyes (59.09%). Subretinal cysts anterior to the equator (4 eyes) were removed transsclerally, whereas subretinal cysts posterior to the equator and intravitreal cysts (41 eyes) were removed transvitreally. The mean follow-up was 10.5 months. At the last follow-up, the retina was attached in 39 eyes (86.6%); visual acuity of >/=5/200 was achieved in 67.5%. CONCLUSIONS: Current vitreoretinal surgical techniques enable removal of intraocular cysticercosis in all cases, with reattachment of the retina in 86.6% and recovery of ambulatory vision in approximately 67% of cases.