VITRECTOMY AND PROLIFERATIVE DIABETIC-RET INOPATHY

Purpose We report a retrospective study about vitrectomy in diabetic p atients and the analysis of anatomical and functional results after su rgery. Methods We studied 66 eyes of 52 diabetic patients who underwen t pars plana vitrectomy. Vitrectomy was performed for nonclearing intr avitreous hemorrhage in 75% of eyes and for tractional macular retinal detachment in 14% of eyes. Results After vitrectomy for intravitreous hemorrhage, visual acuity increased in 84% of eyes with more than 5/1 0 in half the cases. After vitrectomy for tractional retinal detachmen t, visual acuity increased or because stable in only 55% of eyes. The major complication of surgery was recurrence of intravitreous hemorrha ge. A Mew surgery was not necessary in most cases. Neovascular glaucom a, phtysis, retinal detachment and cataract were the other complicatio ns of surgery. Conclusion Visual prognosis after vitrectomy performed in complicated diabetic retinopathy depends on the final macular funct ion. Surgery for intravitreous hemorrhage without macular detachment p roduced in most of cases a good visual acuity. On the other hand vitre ctomy for tractional macular retinal detachment was followed by poor v isual prognosis. After recurrent intravitreous hemorrhage, a new surgi cal procedure is possible with good visual results in most cases, even if several procedures are necessary.