PARS-PLANA VITRECTOMY FOR THE TREATMENT OF RHEGMATOGENOUS RETINAL-DETACHMENT UNCOMPLICATED BY ADVANCED PROLIFERATIVE VITREORETINOPATHY

A consecutive series of 114 eyes (112 patients) undergoing pars plana vitrectomy for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment not complicated by se vere proliferative vitreoretinopathy is presented (follow up 1 to 4 ye ars; mean 19 months). The indications for vitrectomy fell into two mai n groups: (1) where the retinal view was poor and vitrectomy was requi red to clear media opacities to allow identification of retinal breaks (n=62); and (2) where technically difficult breaks existed and vitrec tomy with internal tamponade was used to relieve vitreoretinal tractio n and facilitate retinal break closure (n=44). In some of these cases the need for scleral buckling was eliminated. A smaller third group (n =8) existed where the position of the break(s) was uncertain in the pr esence of an adequate view. The success rate with one procedure was 74 % and with further surgery retinal reattachment was achieved in 92%. A t 6 months after further surgery, beyond which interval no new failure s were encountered, best corrected visual acuity was improved in 92 ey es (81%), unchanged in 14 (12%), and worse in eight (7%). We conclude that pars plana vitrectomy is an effective method for treatment of sel ected cases of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment not complicated by pr oliferative vitreoretinopathy.