Abstract
Purpose: :
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the incidence of retinal tear (RT) or detachment (RD) within 1 year, following 23-gauge pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) without concomitant retinal laser for epiretinal membrane (ERM), macular hole (MH), or vitreomacular traction (VMT).
Methods: :
A retrospective chart review of all patients who underwent 23 gauge PPV for ERM, MH, or VMT without concomitant retinal laser was performed. Inclusion criteria included: age more than 50 and absence of other significant ocular pathology (previous cataract surgery, and less than severe diabetic retinopathy was included). Exclusion criteria included: confounding retinal pathology, prior laser treatment of the retina, and previous 20 gauge PPV. Charts were reviewed for the following information: Patient age, gender, eye of involvement, surgical dates, surgery procedure, presence of post-surgical retinal tear or retinal detachment, and date of such event.
Results: :
A total of 281 eyes of 278 patients were eligible to be included in our study. One hundred sixty eight (60%) had the diagnosis of ERM, 108 (38%) had MH, and 5 (2%) had VMT. The average patient age was 70 years. The male to female ratio was 128 to 153. Fifteen patients needed further operations for persistence of their pathology within one year (5 with ERM, 10 with MH, and none with VMT). The incidence of RT and RD after surgery was 1% (3 in total; 1 with ERM, 2 with MH, and none with VMT). The mean incidence of RD was at 159 days post-operatively (range 19 to 333 days).
Conclusions: :
The rate of retinal detachment and retinal tear post 23 gauge vitrectomy is approximately 1%. As the rate is low, prophylactic laser of sclerotomy sites is unnecessary.
Keywords: macular holes • retinal detachment • vitreoretinal surgery