严重PDR玻璃体切割术后雷珠单抗注射的效果观察

目的：对严重增殖性糖尿病视网膜病变的患者行玻璃体切割术后行雷珠单抗注射的效果观察。方法：回归性分析。12例严重增殖性糖尿病视网膜病变患者(12眼)接受睫状体平坦部玻璃体切割术,同时给予硅油、惰性气体或者平衡液的玻璃体腔填充。在手术结束的同时给予雷珠单抗的玻璃体腔注射。结果：随访时间平均为2.75 mo。这12眼中分别包括玻璃体积血(1眼);玻璃体积血伴纤维血管化增生(1眼);玻璃体积血伴牵拉性视网膜脱离(3眼);纤维血管化增生伴牵拉性视网膜脱离(2眼);玻璃体积血伴新生血管性青光眼伴牵拉性视网膜脱离(1眼);玻璃体积血伴纤维血管化增生伴牵拉性视网膜脱离(2眼);玻璃体积血伴纤维血管化增生伴新生血管性青光眼伴牵拉性视网膜脱离(1眼);玻璃体积血伴牵拉性孔源性视网膜脱离(1眼)。12眼中,8眼行玻璃体腔硅油填充,2眼行惰性气体填充,2眼行平衡液填充。所有的患者之前均未接受任何治疗。视网膜脱离复位率为10/10(100%)。1眼术后出现前房积血。9眼术后最佳矫正视力较术前提高,2眼无明显变化,1眼较术前下降。 OCT检查显示8眼术后未见黄斑水肿。结论：玻璃体切割术后雷珠单抗注射对严重增殖性糖尿病视网膜病变患者有明显的治疗效果：手术成功率明显提高;患者视力显著提高;糖尿病黄斑水肿的发生概率减少;术中及术后并发症的发生率降低。     

Early vitrectomy for progressive diabetic proliferations covering the macula.

The clinical course in 50 eyes was analysed after pars plana vitrectomy for progressive diabetic fibrovascular proliferations. Patients were assigned to pars plana vitrectomy if progression of proliferations occurred despite a photocoagulation treatment with a mean number of 3500 burns and additional peripheral cryoablation. All cases had visual impairment because of fibrovascular tissue covering the macula without detachment of the macula. Flat proliferations were present in all eyes without retinal elevation, vitreous detachment, or vitreous haemorrhage. The follow up intervals ranged from 13 months to 39 months (mean interval 24 months). Twelve months postoperatively, 36 eyes (72%) showed improved visual acuity, five eyes (10%) were worse, and nine eyes (18%) were unchanged. Thirty two eyes (64%) achieved a final visual acuity of 0.2 or better, and 45 eyes (90%) gained 0.05 or better. In only two eyes could reproliferation be observed. The postoperative course indicates that pars plana vitrectomy for diabetic fibrovascular proliferations covering the macula can preserve socially useful visual acuity of at least 0.05 in most cases.     

Lensectomy-vitrectomy indications and techniques in cataract surgery

Lensectomy-vitrectomy is the removal of the crystalline lens through a transscleral retrociliary incision (usually the pars plana) under clinical conditions in which the vitreous gel has to be partially or totally removed. It was designed in the early 1970s at the onset of modern vitreous surgery. The vitreous cutter was used to remove the lens and the vitreous (lensectomy as vitrectomy). With the development of small incision cataract surgery, foldable IOL, the term lensectomy-vitrectomy also applies to separate incisions in one procedure combining lens and vitreous surgery. With this in mind, it covers several very different situations from neonatal congenital cataracts to adult or senile-associated diseases. This type of surgery is widely accepted, and the main controversy is about the consequences of neonatal surgery and the age of IOL implantation in uni- or bilateral congenital cataracts. My personal work with laser flare and cellmetry demonstrates that pars plana vitrectomy alone creates very little trauma to the blood-aqueous barrier, as can be checked by the anterior chamber level of proteins (ie, flare). The postoperative flare in pars plana vitrectomy alone is very close to the preoperative level. Therefore, the association of pars plana vitrectomy and lens surgery should not be more traumatizing to the eye than lens surgery alone. This review will first report the consequences of neonatal lensectomy-vitrectomy to the eye. Subsequent indications for surgery and implantation will be discussed as well as special indications and complications in congenital cataracts, dislocated nucleus in cataract operation, cataract and associated vitreoretinal disorders in diabetes, and giant retinal tears and removal of the lens during vitrectomy.     

Diabetic vitrectomy: risks, prognosis, future trends

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: We review the current standards, risks, prognosis, and indications for diabetic pars plana vitrectomy and consider recent developments in surgical techniques. We also examine surgery's role as a treatment modality for diabetic eye disease among the other accepted and developing treatment options, such as systemic and intravitreal pharmacotherapy. RECENT FINDINGS: Pars plana vitrectomy for diabetic macular edema and for traction retinal detachment is addressed. Techniques to decrease retinal swelling and ischemia are showing promising results. The use of the smaller 25-gauge and 23-gauge vitrectors is gaining acceptance and offers advantages such as less trauma, less postoperative discomfort, and quicker healing. Techniques are being developed and refined to help prevent postoperative vitreous hemorrhage using cryotherapy around sclerotomy sites and/or endolaser in a near-confluent pattern in an effort to quell fibrovascular ingrowth and subsequent hemorrhage. Finally, pharmacological advances include targeting three levels of intervention: achieving the best glycemic control, correcting altered retinal metabolism secondary to increased glucose availability, and employing neuroprotective and vasoprotective agents. SUMMARY: The combination of therapies and interventions as they improve and evolve offers the potential to revolutionize the approach to the complications of diabetic eye disease and may soon render many current interventions obsolete. Diabetic pars plana vitrectomy continues to advance with better anatomic and visual success.     

Spontaneous dislocation into the vitreousof a poly(methyl methacrylate) disc lens 9 years after surgery

A 76-year-old woman had sudden visual loss 9 years after an extracapsular cataractextraction with implantation of a poly(methyl methacrylate) disc intraocular lens (IOL) in the capsular bag. Slitlamp examination showed the disc IOL had luxated into the vitreous through a linear inferior opening in the capsular bag; the IOL lay on the retinal surface. A pars plana vitrectomy was performed. The vitreous cavity was filled with perfluorocarbon liquid, floating the IOL to behind the iris. The IOL was removed through a limbal incision, then another type of IOL was implanted in the ciliary sulcus using transscleral fixation. Thirty days after surgery, best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 20/20. At 2 months, total retinal detachment appeared with a large superior retinal dialysis. Another pars plana vitrectomy was performed and the scleral-fixated IOL removed through a limbal incision. Internal gas tamponade was used. The eye was left aphakic. Final BCVA was 20/25.     

Pars-plana-Vitrektomie bei diabetischer Retinopathie Vom pathogenetischen Prinzip zur operativen Strategie

Diabetic retinopathy is the most important manifestation of diabetic eye disease. There are retinopathy, maculopathy, pathology of the vitreoretinal interface, and tractional retinal detachment. The development of surgical approaches based on pathogenetic ideas are shown. The beneficial effect of pars plana vitrectomy for persisting and recurrent vitreous hemorrhage, epiretinal fibrovascular proliferation, and retinal detachment is discussed. The surgical skills and experiences in diabetic eyes are stressed.     

Pars plana vitrectomy and panretinal photocoagulation combined with trabeculectomy for successful treatment of neovascular glaucoma

Background Treatment of neovascular glaucoma (NVG) must be focused on the reduction of intraocular pressure (IOP) and prompt application of pan retinal photocoagulation (PRP). A combination of complete PRP during vitrectomy with trabeculectomy should theoretically be a better method to lower the IOP rapidly in eyes with NVG. The purpose of our study is to assess the efficacy of combining pars plana vitrectomy and PRP with trabeculectomy assisted by mitomycin C (MMC) on NVG eyes secondary to diabetic retinopathy.Methods Twenty-five eyes with NVG associated with diabetic retinopathy had pars plana vitrectomy, followed by PRP and trabeculectomy with MMC. The eyes were divided into two groups: nine eyes with vitreous hemorrhage, fibrovascular membrane and/or retinal detachment were placed in the Proliferation group; and 16 eyes without vitreous hemorrhage, fibrovascular membrane, or retinal detachment were placed in the PC (photocoagulation) group. These eyes had vitrectomy performed so that PRP could be safely performed from ora to ora. The surgical outcome in the two groups was assessed by Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. The criteria for success were a postoperative intraocular pressure (IOP) ≤21 mmHg and a preservation of light perception.Results In the Proliferation group, Kaplan-Meier life-table analysis showed that the success rate was 55.6% after 1 year and 18.5% after 2 years. The success rate in the PC group was 81.2% from 1 to 3 years after surgery. The surgical outcome was significantly better in the PC group than in the Proliferation group (P=0.009). In the Proliferation group, four eyes had preoperative vitreous hemorrhage, three eyes had a fibrovascular membrane, and two eyes had a retinal detachment. Three of four eyes with vitreous hemorrhage achieved good IOP control. On the other hand, the IOP of all eyes with retinal detachment and fibrovascular membrane were not lowered significantly.Conclusions Complete PRP combined with trabeculectomy with MMC can effectively reduce the elevated IOP in eyes with NVG. However, this combined treatment is not effective in eyes with proliferative membranes and retinal detachments.     

Management options for retinal detachment in the presence of a posteriorly dislocated intraocular lens

Six consecutive cases of retinal detachment occurring in the presence of a posteriorly dislocated intraocular lens were managed between 1978 and 1988. In three cases, a standard scleral buckling procedure was performed with successful retinal reattachment, leaving the dislocated implant in the inferior formed vitreous. In two cases, the implant was removed through the pars plana at the time of pars plana vitrectomy, fluid/gas exchange, and scleral buckling procedure. In the remaining case, the intraocular lens was repositioned with scleral fixation sutures after pars plana vitrectomy, fluid/gas exchange, and scleral buckling. All cases achieved and maintained retinal reattachment with visual improvement. Recommendations for management are discussed.     

Intraocular fluid cultures after primary pars plana vitrectomy.

To determine what organisms enter the eye and remain in the eye after pars plana vitrectomy, vitreous cavity aspirates were cultured postoperatively. Two of 33 (6%) consecutive eyes undergoing primary pars plana vitrectomy had positive cultures. One sample grew a single colony of Staphylococcus epidermidis, the second grew two colonies of Acinetobacter lwoffi. Neither of these eyes developed endophthalmitis. This study demonstrates that bacteria enter the eye at a low rate during pars plana vitrectomy and that the eye on which a vitrectomy has been performed is capable of clearing a low inoculum of bacteria.     

Ultrastructure of internal limiting membrane removed during plasmin-assisted vitrectomy from eyes with diabetic macular edema

PURPOSE: To study the effect of autologous plasmin enzyme (APE) on the adhesion of the vitreous cortex to the internal limiting membrane (ILM) in eyes with diabetic macular edema. DESIGN: Nonrandomized, comparative, interventional case series. PARTICIPANTS: Ten eyes of 10 patients with diabetic macular edema without a posterior vitreous detachment (PVD), which were treated with APE as an adjunct to conventional pars plana vitrectomy, and 10 eyes of 9 patients without a PVD, which underwent pars plana vitrectomy without APE, were studied. METHODS: In the APE group, 0.4 IU of APE was injected into the midvitreous cavity in 9 eyes, and 0.8 IU of APE in 1 eye. Thirty minutes after plasmin injection, the eyes underwent pars plana vitrectomy with ILM peeling. All eyes in the control group had conventional vitreous surgery with ILM peeling. The removed ILMs were investigated for the presence of vitreous and for ultrastructural differences by transmission and scanning electron microscopy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The status of the vitreous and induction of a PVD during surgery, and the presence of vitreous and ultrastructural differences of the removed ILM by transmission and scanning electron microscopy. RESULTS: In APE-treated eyes, the degree of liquefaction of the vitreous was graded as high in 4 eyes. Spontaneous PVD occurred in 2 eyes, whereas core vitrectomy with a maximum vacuum of 100 mmHg induced a PVD in 2 additional eyes. In the control group, 8 eyes required suction with a maximum of 200 mmHg to induce the PVD. Scanning electron micrography of the removed ILM in the APE-treated eyes showed a smooth surface on the vitreous side in 8 eyes and only sparse collagen fibers in 2 eyes. Conversely, in the control group, dense vitreous fibers were found in 4 eyes, sparse collagen fibrils in 3 eyes, and a smooth retinal surface in 3 eyes. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that APE helps separate the vitreous hyaloid from the ILM surface and may be a useful adjunct to conventional vitreous surgery for diabetic macular edema.     

Posteriorly dislocated capsular tension ring.

A 69-year-old man who had pseudoexfoliation and significant nuclear cataract underwent cataract surgery in his right eye. At the beginning of the phacoemulsification, inferior zonulolysis was observed and a capsular tension ring was implanted. Anterior vitrectomy was also performed because of vitreous in the anterior chamber at the end of surgery. A tear in the posterior capsule could not be identified. Three days after surgery, the capsular tension ring was observed partially in the anterior vitreous. A 3-port pars plana vitrectomy was performed and the ring was removed. Three weeks later, the eye developed retinal detachment and was successfully repaired. Retinal complications can develop if the capsular tension ring moves into the vitreous.     

Treatment of myopic macular hole and detachment. Intravitreal gas exchange

Exchanging liquid vitreous with an intravitreal gas bubble was used to treat 19 eyes with retinal detachment caused by myopic macular holes. Twelve retinas were successfully reattached with one exchange, one with a repeated exchange, and three with subsequent conventional pars plana vitrectomy techniques. The procedure was unsuccessful in three patients: two refused additional exchanges or surgery and proliferative vitreoretinopathy developed in one and the retina could not be successfully reattached despite pars plana vitrectomy. Visual improvement 6 months after exchange was limited due to myopic macular degeneration, but a visual acuity of 20/400 was obtained in nine patients and finger counting vision in nine. The eye with proliferative vitreoretinopathy deteriorated to light perception.     

Fibrovascular ingrowth and recurrent haemorrhage following diabetic vitrectomy

AIM: To investigate the prevalence and the outcome of management of fibrovascular ingrowth (FVI) in eyes undergoing vitreous cavity washout (VCWO) following vitrectomy for diabetic retinopathy. METHOD: FVI was searched for at VCWO for in 19 consecutive eyes with proliferative diabetic retinopathy undergoing vitreous surgery for recurrent vitreous cavity haemorrhage over an 18 month period; the findings were correlated with the presence or absence of associated sclerotomy vessels externally. Eyes with richly vascularised ingrowths from the pars plana entry sites, as well as eyes with less extensive ingrowths but extensive retinal ablation applied at previous surgery for recurrent haemorrhage, underwent lensectomy and ciliary membrane dissection in addition to extensive retinopexy (n=6). Less severe cases received peripheral laser and cryotherapy only. The outcome of repeat surgery was studied prospectively in the 11 eyes with FVI. RESULTS: 11 of the 19 eyes had a definite FVI from one or more of the original pars plana sclerotomies. In six of 11 eyes with FVI a large external episcleral vessel was present entering the original sclerotomy sites at which ingrowth was found peroperatively, but such sclerotomy vessels were also present in three of eight eyes with no FVI detected on the internal aspect of the sclerotomy. Two patients were lost to follow up and the remaining nine patients with FVI had no further vitreous cavity haemorrhage during initial follow up of 2-5 months. CONCLUSIONS: FVI has until now been considered an infrequent occurrence following vitrectomy for diabetic retinopathy. These findings would suggest that it is not uncommon and careful examination of the sclerotomy sites should be undertaken in all cases with recurrent haemorrhage and if FVI is found this should be treated appropriately.     

Staining of the internal limiting membrane with intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide

PURPOSE: To evaluate the use of triamcinolone acetonide to stain the internal limiting membrane (ILM) during vitreoretinal surgery. METHODS: A prospective clinical interventional case series study was performed, including 16 patients who underwent pars plana vitrectomy. Seven patients had proliferative diabetic retinopathy with macular edema. Seven patients had epiretinal membranes. One patient had a retinal detachment with a cystoid macular edema and proliferative vitreoretinopathy. One patient had a pseudophakic cystoid macular edema. After vitrectomy, 2 mL triamcinolone acetonide suspension was injected into the vitreous cavity. The ILM was peeled, as it was evidenced by the particles of triamcinolone that adhered to its surface. The ultrastructure of tissue harvested during surgery was analyzed using transmission electron microscopy in selected cases to confirm the presence or absence of ILM. RESULTS: After the injection of triamcinolone, the visualization of the vitreous base and hyaloid was excellent in all patients. The particles of triamcinolone deposited on the retinal surface enabled the ILM to be stained. Once removed, the ILM was clearly distinguishable, floating in the vitreous cavity with particles of triamcinolone adhering to its surface. Ultrastructural analysis of tissue collected during vitrectomy confirmed that the removed tissue represented ILM. CONCLUSION: We observed that triamcinolone acetonide can be useful in staining the internal limiting membrane, thus greatly facilitating the retinal ILM peeling. The absence of particles of triamcinolone on the underlying retina enables the area where the ILM has already been removed to be identified.     

Vitrectomy for macular hemorrhage associated with retinal arterial macroaneurysm

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of pars plana vitrectomy to treat massive macular hemorrhage caused by retinal arterial macroaneurysm. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. PARTICIPANTS: Eight eyes of eight patients. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the charts for eight eyes of eight patients in which pars plana vitrectomy had been performed to remove a massive macular hemorrhage secondary to a ruptured retinal arterial macroaneurysm. In each case, the preretinal/intralamellar hemorrhage was removed, and in three of the eight eyes a subretinal hemorrhage was removed via a retinotomy after clot lysis using tissue plasminogen activator. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Pars plana vitrectomy to treat macular hemorrhage secondary to retinal arterial macroaneurysm. RESULTS: The duration of symptoms ranged from 10 to 80 days (average, 31 days). The preoperative visual acuities ranged from counting fingers to 0.09. Follow-up ranged from 3 to 36 months (average, 19 months). The postoperative visual acuities improved in seven eyes and remained unchanged in one; vision was better than 0.1 in six eyes and better than 0.4 in five. Postoperative complications included a mild vitreous hemorrhage in two eyes, a macular hole in one, and a cataract in two. CONCLUSIONS: Pars plana vitrectomy appears to be relatively safe and effective in treating massive macular hemorrhage caused by a retinal arterial macroaneurysm.     

睫状体平坦部四切口玻璃体手术治疗严重增生性糖尿病视网膜病变

目的探讨睫状体平坦部四切口玻璃体手术治疗有广泛纤维血管膜增生的糖尿病视网膜病变（PDR）的临床效果。方法为病例对照试验。回顾性选择27例（28只眼）有广泛纤维血管膜增生的PDR Ⅵ期患者作为试验组,采用睫状体平坦部四切口玻璃体手术,双手进行眼内操作,如膜分离与切除,视网膜复位,眼内光凝硅油充填。选择同期有广泛纤维血管膜增生的PDR Ⅵ期患者30例（30只眼）作为对照组,由同一术者完成睫状体平坦部三切口玻璃体手术。结果试验组28只眼均顺利完成膜分离与切除,1只眼出现2个医源性视网膜裂孔。随访7～54个月,术后视网膜均复位,多数患者视力有不同程度提高。对照组2只眼有部分膜残留,3只眼出现4个医源性视网膜裂孔,随访12个月视网膜均复位,3只眼发生新生血管性青光眼。结论四切口玻璃体手术采用双手操作眼内剥膜,可明显提高手术效率,减少组织损伤,是治疗有广泛纤维血管膜增生的严重PDR的较好方法。（中华眼科杂志,2008,44：17—19）     

玻璃体手术治疗自发性玻璃体积血

目的观察玻璃体手术治疗非糖尿病性自发玻璃体积血的疗效及其与手术时机的关系。方法45例(46眼)非糖尿病性自发玻璃体积血行标准三通道闭合式玻璃体切除并联合眼内激光光凝等手术,并对不同时机手术的患者术后视力及并发症进行分析。结果1月以内手术者术后视力均提高。1月以上手术者14眼中术后视力提高者2眼,不变8眼,下降3眼。手术并发症主要为术中出血和医源孔及术后高眼压。术中医源孔和术后视网膜脱离均为1月以上手术者。结论玻璃体手术治疗非糖尿病性自发玻璃体浓密积血者疗效佳,并发症少。考虑玻璃体积血为视网膜裂孔所致者应及时手术。     

玻璃体视网膜手术治疗晚期大泡状视网膜脱离的临床疗效观察

目的 观察玻璃体视网膜手术治疗晚期大泡状视网膜脱离的疗效。 方法 回顾分析经裂隙灯显微镜、三面镜及间接检眼镜、B型超声以及荧光素眼底血管造影检查确诊，无法进行有效激光光凝而行玻璃体视网膜手术治疗的晚期大泡状视网膜脱离患者7例9只眼的临床资料。所有患眼均在局部麻醉下巩膜穿刺放出视网膜下液后，行睫状体扁平部的闭合式三切口玻璃体切割手术。去除玻璃体及后皮质，视网膜内引流 ，吸出视网膜下液体，激光光凝封闭视网膜切开处和渗出区，气液交换后注入眼内填充物。 手术后随访3个月～8年，平均随访时间47个月。 结果 随访期内视网膜均复位。1只眼在手术后2年复查时因视网膜前增生膜牵引形成一裂孔，并有一硅油泡进入视网膜下造成局部视网膜脱离而行第二次手术治疗，手术后随访1年视网膜平复。8只眼手术后视力较手术前有不同程度提高，1只眼手术后视力无改变。 结论 晚期严重大泡状视网膜脱离患者行玻璃体视网膜手术治疗能安全有效地促进视网膜复位，挽救患眼的部分视力。 （中华眼底病杂志，2006，22：299-301）     

Ultrasound biomicroscopy of sclerotomy sites after pars plana vitrectomy for diabetic vitreous hemorrhage

OBJECTIVE: This study was aimed at assessing changes at the sclerotomy site using the ultrasound biomicroscope (UBM) in eyes that underwent primary pars plana vitrectomy for complications of proliferative diabetic retinopathy. DESIGN: Prospective, observational case series. PARTICIPANTS: Eighty-six eyes of 84 patients with vitreous hemorrhage caused by proliferative diabetic retinopathy. INTERVENTION: Three-port pars plana vitrectomy followed by UBM evaluation of all sclerotomy sites between 6 and 8 weeks after surgery. Correlation with intraoperative findings done in case of reoperations. Forty-one eyes had repeat UBM at 6 months. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The changes at the sclerotomy site were classified into six groups: well healed, gape, plaque, vitreous incarceration, fibrovascular proliferation, and anterior hyaloidal fibrovascular proliferation (AHFVP). The UBM characteristics of each of the groups were defined. The findings at 6 months were compared with those at 6 to 8 weeks. RESULTS: At 6 to 8 weeks after surgery, most sclerotomies were well healed or had either moderate to high reflective plaques bridging the site. Wound gape was seen in 22.1% of active ports, 32.6% of light ports, and 25.6% of infusion ports. Vitreous incarceration was seen most often at the infusion port (18. 6% of eyes). Fibrovascular proliferation was seen in 9.3% of active ports, 12.8% of light ports, and 15.1% of infusion ports. Thirteen eyes had recurrent vitreous hemorrhage 6 to 8 weeks after surgery. Cases with rebleeding and no fibrovascular proliferation at the sclerotomy on UBM did well with outpatient fluid-air exchange (two eyes) or observation only (three eyes). Those with fibrovascular proliferation on UBM (eight eyes) required more extensive surgery. CONCLUSIONS: UBM is helpful in detecting complications at the sclerotomy sites after pars plana vitrectomy and is an invaluable tool in the assessment of the patient before reoperation.     

Sympathetic ophthalmia associated with pars plana vitrectomy without antecedent penetrating trauma

PURPOSE: To evaluate, describe, and categorize the clinical presentation, clinical course, histopathology, and response to therapy in patients without a history of penetrating ocular trauma who developed sympathetic ophthalmia following pars plana vitrectomy. METHODS: The records of patients without a history of trauma who underwent pars plana vitrectomy and developed sympathetic ophthalmia were retrospectively reviewed. Cases were analyzed with respect to clinical presentation, fluorescein angiographic findings, anatomic and visual outcomes, histopathology, and response to therapy. RESULTS: Eight eyes were identified. The median age at presentation was 55 years, with a range of 14 to 62 years. The time from vitrectomy to diagnosis of sympathetic ophthalmia ranged from 2 months to greater than 2 years, with a median of 7 months. Six of eight patients (75%) presented with anterior chamber reaction. All eight patients presented with a vitreous inflammatory response. The optic nerve was inflamed clinically or angiographically in four of eight cases (50%). Small yellow-white sub-retinal pigment epithelial deposits were present in four of eight cases (50%). Two eyes had lesions characterized as multifocal choroiditis. One eye had larger yellow placoid-like lesions. One eye presented with vitritis but no retinal lesions. Subretinal choroidal neovascularization was noted in the inciting eye of one patient. Vision improved in the sympathizing eye with immunosuppressive therapy in five of eight cases (62.5%). CONCLUSIONS: Sympathetic ophthalmia can be seen following pars plana vitrectomy in patients without penetrating injuries or a history of trauma. Indeed, it may be seen after successful vitrectomy for retinal detachment. Diverse clinical presentations are possible, and persistent or atypical uveitis following vitrectomy should alert the surgeon to the development of sympathetic ophthalmia.