Ultrasound biomicroscopy of sclerotomy sites - The effect of vitreous shaving around sclerotomy sites during pars plana vitrectomy

Purpose: To study the difference in the amount of vitreous incarceration be tween conventional pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) and PPV with vitreous shavin g around sclerotomy sites. Methods: A dynamic in vivo examination using ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) was performed on the sclerotomy sites of 22 eyes after PPV. Patients were divided into two groups. In the study group (n = 11), the vitreous was comp letely shaved from the internal initial sclerotomy by cotton-tip depressed vitrectomy under coaxial illumination. In the control group (n = 11), no vi treous shaving was performed. Results: Vitreous incarceration into sclerotomy sites was significantly les s in the study group compared with the control group (P <0.001). No differe nce was seen among the three sclerotomy sites regarding vitreous incarcerat ion within individual eyes. No difference was seen between eyes operated by right- and left-handed surgeons. Conclusions: Vitreous shaving of sclerotomy sites using depressed vitrectom y significantly reduces vitreous incarceration. This may reduce the rate of sclerotomy-related complications following PPV in selected cases.