Results of vitrectomy for proliferative diabetic retinopathy

The authors treated 1007 eyes with vitrectomy for complications of proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Indications for surgery were: vitreous hemorrhage, 353 eyes (35%); traction retinal detachment, 360 eyes (36%); combined traction-rhegmatogenous retinal detachment, 172 eyes (17%); and other progressive fibrovascular proliferation 122 eyes (12%). During the study period, the frequency of vitreous hemorrhage as an indication for surgery decreased from 42 to 25%, and other progressive fibrovascular proliferation increased from 5 to 22%. The frequency of traction and traction/rhegmatogenous retinal detachments did not change. The results of surgery varied according to the indication. Seventy-nine percent of eyes with vitreous hemorrhage obtained final vision of 5/200 or better. Similar results were obtained in 64% of eyes with traction detachment, 56% of eyes with rhegmatogenous detachment, and 81% of eyes with progressive fibrovascular proliferation. The percentage of eyes achieving final vision of 20/100 or better are as follows: vitreous hemorrhage, 48%; traction detachment, 27%; rhegmatogenous detachment, 24%; and progressive fibrovascular proliferation, 46%. The success rate improved in each anatomic category during the last 3 years of the study.     

Vitrectomy in the management of diabetic eye disease.

Vitrectomy techniques including endolaser photocoagulation allow visual rehabilitation in many eyes that are otherwise untreatable. Discerning the indications and timing for diabetic vitrectomy is increasingly important as the treatment of complications of diabetic retinopathy continues to undergo modification and redefinition. The most common indications for diabetic vitrectomy include: 1) severe nonclearing vitreous hemorrhage; 2) traction retinal detachment recently involving the macula; 3) combined traction and rhegmatogenous detachment; 4) progressive fibrovascular proliferation; and 5) rubeosis iridis and vitreous hemorrhage for eyes in which the media opacity has prevented adequate laser photocoagulation. Other less common indications in selected cases include dense premacular hemorrhage, ghost cell glaucoma, macular edema with premacular traction, cataract preventing treatment of severe, proliferative diabetic retinopathy, anterior hyaloidal fibrovascular proliferation, and fibrinoid syndrome with retinal detachment. The rationale and surgical objectives are discussed and results are summarized.     

进展型增生性糖尿病视网膜病变玻璃体 切割手术的价值与意义

目的了解有不同并发症的进展型增生性糖尿病视网膜病变眼进行玻璃体手术的结果。方法将患有Ⅰ、Ⅱ型糖尿病进展型增生性糖尿病视网膜病变的314只眼分为玻璃体积血合并局限牵拉性视网膜脱离组;广泛纤维血管膜合并牵拉性视网膜脱离组;牵拉孔源混合性视网膜脱离组;玻璃体积血视网膜脱离合并老年性白内障行玻璃体手术联合白内障摘除及人工晶状体植入组,分别进行回顾性分析。结果玻璃体积血合并局限牵拉性视网膜脱离组中Ⅰ、Ⅱ型糖尿病患 者手术后获得0.1以上视力的分别占39.4%和66.7%,广泛纤维血管膜合并牵拉性视网膜脱离组中Ⅰ、Ⅱ型糖尿病患者手术后获得0.1以上视力的分别占31.6%和51.6%,牵拉孔源混合性视网膜脱离组手术后获得0.1以上视力者占31.6%,玻璃体积血视网膜脱离合并老年性白内障行玻璃体手术联合白内障摘除及人工晶状体植入组手术后获得0.1以上视力者占62.5%。首要的术中 并发症是医源性视网膜裂孔,术后视力丧失的主要原因包括新生血管性青光眼、视网膜脱离和视网膜中央动脉阻塞。结论玻璃体切割手术联合全视网膜光凝术,能有效地改善进展性糖尿病视网膜病变患者的视力。(中华眼底病杂志,2001,17:171-174)     

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 of proliferative diabetic retinopathy

Proliferative diabetic retinopathy is characterized by neovascularization originating from the retina and/or optic disk in patients with diabetes mellitus. The role of vascular endothelial growth factor appears to be central in the pathogenesis of proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Advanced glycation end products are important in the development of vitreous abnormalities in proliferative diabetic retinopathy. The majority of the neovascular membranes are adherent to the posterior vitreous cortex. When the posterior hyaloid exerts traction, the edges of the neovascular complex are pulled forward, resulting in vitreous hemorrhage. Tractional and/or rhegmatogenous retinal detachments can occur. The Diabetic Retinopathy Study demonstrated the ability of panretinal photocoagulation to reduce the rate of severe visual loss by 50% for eyes with high-risk characteristics, defined as neovascularization originating from the optic disk > 1/3 disk diameter, any neovascularization originating from the optic disk with hemorrhage, and neovascularization originating from the retina with vitreous hemorrhage. The Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study showed that patients with type II diabetes mellitus who were older than 40 with severe nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (defined as hemorrhages in four quadrants, venous beading in two quadrants, or intraretinal microvascular abnormalities in one quadrant) also benefited from early panretinal photocoagulation. The Diabetic Retinopathy Vitrectomy Study showed that early vitrectomy (within 6 months of onset of vitreous hemorrhage) was associated with better results in type I diabetes mellitus patients only. The goals of vitreous surgery are to remove the vitreous, including the posterior hyaloid, and to relieve traction from fibrovascular tissue. Delamination and segmentation techniques have been used in the excision of fibrovascular growth on the internal limiting membrane and extending into the vitreous. Panretinal photocoagulation is an integral component of vitrectomy for proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor agents may be used in addition to laser as an adjunct to reduce the risk of neovascularization. Vitrectomy surgery may have intraoperative and postoperative complications, including cataract, anterior hyaloidal fibrovascular proliferation, fibrovascular ingrowth, retinal detachment, and recurrent vitreous hemorrhage. Visual potential depends on the preoperative and postoperative status of the macula, as well as on retinal perfusion and the health of the optic nerve. With the improvement in instruments, techniques, and drugs, the results of vitrectomy in proliferative diabetic retinopathy are improving.     

Pathologic study following vitrectomy for proliferative diabetic retinopathy

This article details the pathologic findings in eyes removed postmortem from a diabetic man with proliferative retinopathy, vitreous hemorrhage, and tractional retinal detachment. Several years before death, to control hemorrhage from extraretinal vasoproliferative lesions, one eye only was treated with argon laser panretinal photocoagulation. Eight months before death the treated eye also was operated for tractional retinal detachment with current vitrectomy methods: membranotomy, partial peeling, and segmentation of preretinal membranes. Despite their atropic clinical appearance, the extraretinal lesions on pathologic study were "active." In the operated and nonoperated eyes the vascular and nonvascular proliferative lesions were of equal severity. The sclerotomy wounds were complicated by intraocular granulation tissue, focal granulomatous inflammation related to suture fragments, and intraocular hemorrhage.     

Clinical factors related to the aqueous levels of vascular endothelial growth factor and hepatocyte growth factor in proliferative diabetic retinopathy

PURPOSE: To investigate clinical factors related to the aqueous humor levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) in patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). METHODS: Undiluted aqueous humor was obtained during ocular surgery from 46 eyes of 46 patients and the levels of growth factors were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. VEGF and HGF levels were compared with the number of photocoagulation. VEGF and HGF levels in patient groups stratified according to the existence of vitreous hemorrhage, retinal detachment, and fibrovascular membrane were analyzed. And clinical parameters associated with the growth factors were determined by multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: The levels of VEGF decreased significantly as the extent of photocoagulation increased and showed significant positive correlation with the existence of vitreous hemorrhage. There was no significant correlation between VEGF levels and the existence of fibrovascular membrane and traction retinal detachment. The levels of HGF also decreased significantly as the extent of photocoagulation increased, but increased significantly when fibrovascular membrane existed. There were no significant correlations between HGF levels and the existence of vitreous hemorrhage and traction retinal detachment. Concerning systemic conditions, each growth factor has no significant correlation with duration and type of diabetes mellitus, the treatment regimen, the control of hemoglobin A1C, and the existence of hypertension or renal dysfunction. CONCLUSION: The therapeutic effect of panretinal photocoagulation on PDR might be partly exerted by reduction of the levels of VEGF and HGF in ocular fluid. Since the clinical parameters associated with VEGF were different from those associated with HGF, these growth factors might influence the progression of retinopathy in different ways.     

Anterior hyaloidal fibrovascular proliferation after diabetic vitrectomy

Vitrectomy was performed to treat 74 consecutive eyes for complications of diabetic retinopathy. Eight (13%) of 61 eyes followed up for an average of 12 months developed anterior hyaloidal fibrovascular proliferation. This was the most common postoperative complication, whose features included recurrent hemorrhages into the vitreous cavity or anterior vitreous, or both; vessels or fibrovascular tissue on the posterior lens capsule; anterior extraretinal vascularization extending toward the lens on the anterior hyaloid; traction detachment of the peripheral retina or ciliary body; and hypotony. Patients who developed this complication tended to be young males with severe retinal neovascularization and extensive retinal ischemia; traction retinal detachment as an indication for surgery; placement of a scleral buckle; postoperative rubeosis iridis, recurrent vitreous hemorrhages, and retinal detachment; and multiple surgeries. Four eyes progressed to atrophia bulbi. Early recognition followed by additional surgery in two patients and extensive additional photocoagulation in two other patients was successful in preserving good visual function.     

Different outcome among eyes with proliferative diabetic retinopathy indicated for vitrectomy

PURPOSE: The postoperative outcome was evaluated in each group of surgical indications of vitreous surgery for proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR), to investigate the factors responsible for postoperative visual prognosis. METHODS: Primary vitrectomy was performed in 119 eyes of 92 patients with PDR. Average postoperative follow-up period was 19 months. The indications for vitrectomy included vitrous hemorrhage in 58 eyes, macular tractional retinal detachment in 17 eyes, extramacular tractional retinal detachment in 10 eyes, macular heterotopia in 11 eyes, and progressive fibrovascular proliferation in the posterior fundus in 23 eyes. RESULTS: The visual acuity finally improved by 2 lines or more in 91 eyes (77%), remained unchanged in 10 eyes (8 %), and decreased by 2 lines or more in 18 eyes (15%). Final postoperative visual acuity was significantly better in cases of vitreous hemorrhage or progressive fibrovascular proliferation in the posterior fundus than in others. Preoperative rubeosis iridis and macular tractional retinal detachment were probably responsible for the final visual impairment, and intraocular tamponade affected the difference in visual prognosis between the groups of surgical indication. Multivariate analysis in all cases revealed that factors influencing visual outcome were preoperative rubeosis iridis and anemia. CONCLUSION: Rubeosis iridis and macular tractional retinal detachment were prognostic factors of the surgery. Vitrectomy for PDR may be effective in improving postoperative visual acuity if performed in the early stage of progressive fibrovascular proliferation in the posterior fundus after sufficient retinal photocoagulation.     

A proposed new classification for diabetic retinopathy: the concept of primary and secondary vitreopathy

BACKGROUND: Many eyes with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) require vitreous surgery despite complete regression of new vessels with pan retinal laser photocoagulation (PRP). Changes in the vitreous caused by diabetes mellitus and diabetic retinopathy may continue to progress independent of laser regressed status of retinopathy. Diabetic vitreopathy can be an independent manifestation of the disease process. AIM: To examine this concept by studying the long-term behavior of the vitreous in cases of PDR regressed with PRP. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy-four eyes with pure PDR (without clinically evident vitreous traction) showing fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) proven regression of new vessels following PRP were retrospectively studied out of a total of 1380 eyes photocoagulated between March 2001 and September 2006 for PDR of varying severity. Follow-up was available from one to four years. RESULTS: Twenty-three percent of eyes showing FFA-proven regression of new vessels with laser required to undergo surgery for indications produced by vitreous traction such as recurrent vitreous hemorrhage, tractional retinal detachment, secondary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment and tractional macular edema within one to four years. CONCLUSION: Vitreous changes continued to progress despite regression of PDR in many diabetics. We identifies this as "clinical diabetic vitreopathy" and propose an expanded classification for diabetic retinopathy to signify these changes and to redefine the indications for surgery.     

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。     

Anterior retinal cryotherapy in diabetic vitreous hemorrhage

Recurrent vitreous hemorrhage associated with proliferative retinopathy can occur in eyes that do not satisfactorily respond to argon laser pantretinal photocoagulation. To evaluate the effect of relatively low-risk surgical intervention, we performed peripheral retinal cryopexy on 24 eyes of 23 diabetic patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy and vitreous hemorrhage. In most cases, cryopexy followed complete or nearly complete panretinal photocoagulation which did not prevent subsequent vitreous hemorrhage. Existing vitreous hemorrhage cleared postoperatively in 23 of 24 eyes. The best corrected visual acuity improved in 15 eyes, remained unchanged in five, and worsened in four. Four postoperative anterior segment complications resolved completely within a short time. One patient, a 68-year-old woman who had had diabetes for 18 years, postoperatively had a macular hole in one eye and macular edema with tractional retinal detachment in the other.     

Ⅱ型增殖性糖尿病视网膜病变患者行玻璃体切除地机与术后视力 …

探讨Ⅱ型增殖性糖尿病视网膜病变合并严重玻璃本出血或合并血管纤维增殖引起的视网膜牵拉性视网膜脱离情况下,进行玻璃全切除术的手术时机。     

Incidence of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment after vitrectomy in eyes of diabetic patients

PURPOSE: To assess the incidence of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) after pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) among diabetic patients with complications of proliferative diabetic retinopathy. METHODS: Ninety-three eyes of diabetic patients-who underwent PPV with or without intraocular gas tamponade for complications of proliferative diabetic retinopathy-were reviewed retrospectively. Indication for vitrectomy was vitreous hemorrhage in 80 patients (86.1%), tractional retinal detachment in 3 (3.2%), and vitreous hemorrhage associated with tractional retinal detachment in 10 (10.7%). RESULTS: Four (4.3%) of 93 eyes developed an RRD after vitrectomy. The primary reason for vitrectomy was recurrent or nonresolving vitreous hemorrhage. The retina was attached with one additional surgical procedure in two of these eyes; the other two had to undergo a third operation before attachment was achieved. CONCLUSION: RRD occurs in a small percentage of patients after PPV with or without gas tamponade for vitreous hemorrhage or tractional retinal detachment caused by proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Thorough postoperative follow-up is important to make early diagnosis and intervention possible.     

Antiangiogenic drugs and advanced proliferative diabetic retinopathy

Advanced diabetic retinopathy with tractional retinal detachment or persistent vitreous hemorrhage often requires surgical treatment with pars plana vitrectomy. Despite advances in vitrectomy, surgery for complications of diabetic retinopathy can be a challenge and may be impaired by intense fibrovascular proliferation. Antiangiogenic drugs have been used for the treatment of diabetic retinopathy because of their inhibitory action on vascular endothelial growth factor. In this review, we discuss aspects related to the adjuvant use of these drugs in vitrectomy for complications of diabetic retinopathy. Bevacizumab shows beneficial effects regarding the surgical technique facilitation, but its long-term benefit still needs to be studied.     

One-year outcomes of panretinal photocoagulation in proliferative diabetic retinopathy

PURPOSE: To describe the clinical features and complications of diabetic retinopathy, visual acuity, and number of repeat treatments after panretinal photocoagulation for proliferative diabetic retinopathy in a tertiary care center. METHODS: A cohort study was conducted with data collection from medical records of patients undergoing panretinal photocoagulation between 1985 and 1995 at the Scheie Eye Institute; 297 eyes of 186 patients were eligible for study. RESULTS: The presence of neovascularization of the disk at baseline, an earlier onset of diabetes, and a shorter duration of disease before panretinal photocoagulation were the strongest risk factors for needing an additional panretinal photocoagulation treatment. Sixty-two percent of eyes with poor visual acuity (< or =20/200) at baseline still had poor visual acuity at 1 year, and 76% with good visual acuity (> or =20/40) at baseline maintained good visual acuity at 1 year. Poor vision at baseline was the only risk factor for having poor vision at 1 year. Vitreous hemorrhage was present in 44% of eyes at baseline. New vitreous hemorrhage developed in 37% of eyes during the first year after panretinal photocoagulation. A traction retinal detachment was present in 4% of eyes at baseline and newly developed in 6% of eyes during follow-up. A repeat panretinal photocoagulation treatment was performed in 39% of eyes after initial treatment. A vitrectomy was performed in 10% of eyes from baseline through the 1-year follow-up visit. CONCLUSIONS: The data from this study are useful for counseling patients with respect to likely visual outcome, possibility of major complications from proliferative diabetic retinopathy, and the chance of undergoing additional laser treatment after panretinal photocoagulation.     

Combined surgery, phacoemulsification, implantation of intraocular lens and pars plana vitrectomy

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effectiveness, technical feasibility and incidence of complications after combining pars plana vitrectomy, phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The results of combined vitreoretinal and cataract surgery in 100 eyes of 96 patients were retrospectively and prospectively analyzed. The mean follow-up period was 8.4 months. All patients had clinically significant lens opacities and vitreoretinal pathology requiring pars plana vitrectomy. Indications for vitreoretinal surgery included: persistent vitreous haemorrhage (28 eyes), vitreous hemorrhage combined with tractional retinal detachment (50 eyes), tractional retinal detachment without vitreous haemorrhage caused by proliferative diabetic retinopathy (7 eyes), rheumatogenous retinal detachment with proliferative vitreoretinopathy (10 eyes) and dislocated crystalline lens in the vitreous (5 eyes). RESULTS: Postoperatively, best corrected visual acuity improved in 81 eyes (81%)- by two lines or more in 31 eyes (31%) - by less than two lines in 50 eyes (50%). In 14 eyes (14%) visual acuity was unchanged and was worse in 5 cases (5%). Postoperative complications included fibrin reaction, posterior synechias of the iris, vitreous hemorrhage, neovascular glaucoma, posterior capsule opacification, redetachment of retina. CONCLUSIONS: Our cases confirm previous study, that performing phacoemulsification, IOL implantation and vitrectomy in one operation is safe and allows visual recovery with good technical results.     

Surgery for diabetic retinopathy

Surgery for diabetic retinopathy addresses late secondary complications of a primary microvascular disease. Since surgery is not a causative therapy, the functional outcome of surgery depends on the degree of retinal ischemia and may be disappointing even in technically and anatomically successfully operated eyes. Typical indications for vitrectomy are vitreous hemorrhage, tractional retinal detachment, combined tractional rhegmatogenous retinal detachment and tractive macular edema. More recently diffuse diabetic macular edema has been shown to improve after removal of an attached vitreous in several cases. Neovascular glaucoma requires aggressive surgical intervention to salvage the eye. Cataract surgery is commonly performed in eyes with diabetic retinopathy. It may however deteriorate diabetic eye disease. Vitreous surgery also has a potential for severe complications in diabetic eyes which can be ameliorated but not eliminated by proper surgical strategies and techniques. The decision for an intervention in diabetic eyes always requires a careful weighing of risks and benefits of surgery.     

Combining phacoemulsification with pars plana vitrectomy in patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy: a series of 223 cases

PURPOSE: To describe the results of combined phacoemulsification, insertion of posterior chamber intraocular lens (PCIOL), and pars plana vitrectomy for patients with retinal disorders resulting from diabetic retinopathy. DESIGN: Retrospective, consecutive, noncomparative, interventional case series. PARTICIPANTS: Two hundred twenty-three patients with vitreoretinal disorders secondary to diabetic retinopathy. METHODS: A case series of 223 consecutive patients with retinal disorders resulting from diabetic retinopathy who underwent combined phacoemulsification, insertion of PCIOL, and pars plana vitrectomy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Vision, number of secondary procedures, and complications. RESULTS: Two hundred twenty-three patients (153 with vitreous hemorrhage, 58 with traction retinal detachment, and 12 with macular traction) underwent combined surgery. The average increase in vision was 4.3 Snellen lines. The average follow-up was 10 months. Retinal detachment occurred in 5% of patients who underwent surgery. Diabetic macular edema was found in 12% after combined surgery. Cystoid macular edema was found in 3%. Vitreous hemorrhage requiring another procedure occurred in 11%. Twenty-two patients (10%) required a repeat vitrectomy (12 for vitreous hemorrhage and 10 for retinal detachment). CONCLUSIONS: Combined phacoemulsification, insertion of PCIOL, posterior capsulectomy, and pars plana vitrectomy can be used to treat patients with complications resulting from proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Combined surgery may prevent a second operation for postvitrectomy cataract, allowing earlier visual rehabilitation.     

Vitrectomy in retinal detachment caused by diabetic retinopathy

We reviewed the surgical results obtained in 23 eyes that underwent vitrectomy for diabetic traction retinal detachment. Retinal reattachment was obtained in 75% of eyes, however the functional results were modest, owing to retinal changes related to diabetic retinopathy and/or longstanding macular detachment. Ambulatory vision was obtained in 60% of eyes. 8 eyes (40%) had final visual acuity of 1/20 or better. Four preoperative clinical findings were associated with a poor prognosis = absence of scatter retinal photocoagulation, dense vitreous hemorrhage, iris neovascularization and preoperative visual acuity reduced to "light perception". Iatrogenic retinal breaks were also associated with a poor prognosis.