THE VISUAL OUTCOME OF VITRECTOMY FOR ADVANCED DIABETIC-RETINOPATHY

The indications for vitrectomy in the management of proliferative diab etic retinopathy are increasing. This is due to the improving results associated with earlier surgery, improving instrumentation and refinem ents in technique, The current indications for surgery include chronic or recurrent vitreous haemorrhage (of at Least one months duration), progressive extramacular tractional retinal detachment, tractional mac ular detachment and elevated proliferative diabetic retinopathy. This paper reviews a series of 30 vitrectomies performed for severe complic ations of proliferative diabetic retinopathy, Most favourable visual o utcome was associated with surgery for chronic or recurrent vitreous h aemorrhage (in the absence of rubeosis iridis) and progressive extrama cular tractional retinal detachment. Poor visual prognostic factors we re, pre-operative rubeosis iridis and tractional retinal detachments i nvolving the macula,