Abstract
Introduction: :
Objective: To evaluate the effect of vitrectomy on intraocular pressure (IOP).
Design: :
Retrospective Cohort Study.
Participants: :
One hundred and one eyes of 101 patients undergoing non-emergent vitrectomy surgery.
Methods: :
Medical records were reviewed for rates of open-angle glaucoma (OAG), increased IOP > 4 mm Hg from baseline, change in IOP from baseline, and cataract formation. Preoperative and last measured IOPs were recorded. Baseline risk characteristics including lens status and diabetes were analyzed.
Results: :
Mean follow-up was 49 months (range 12 to 105). Mean baseline IOP was 15.3 mm Hg and mean final IOP was 15.8 mm Hg (P = 0.3). At final exam, 35 eyes had a decrease in IOP from baseline while 14 had no change and 52 had an increase in IOP. Four study eyes were newly diagnosed with ocular hypertension. No study eyes developed OAG or required medical, laser, or surgical treatment for glaucoma. Incidence of increased IOP > 4 was 7% at 4 years and 34% at 8 years. Sub-group analysis of 66 comparing study eyes with non-vitrectomized fellow eyes demonstrated no significant difference in rates of increased IOP > 4 (P = 0.85). Neither diabetes nor pseudophakia were associated with significantly increased IOP.
Main Outcome Measures: :
Incidence of OAG, increased IOP > 4, and change in IOP.
Conclusions: :
In this series, vitrectomy does not appear to increase IOP or rates of OAG even after removal of the crystaline lens.
Keywords: intraocular pressure • vitreoretinal surgery • clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: prevalence/incidence