Abstract
Purpose: :
The aim of this clinical study is to evaluate the clinical safety of a taurin containing solution (AcriPuRet®) and the establishment of its routine application in the pars plana vitrectomy (ppV).
Methods: :
25 patients who underwent ppV for non–proliferative diabetic retinopathy (Macular pucker, macular hole and reactive epiretinal gliosis due to intermediate uveitis) and vitreous pathology (Synchisis scintillans) were included in this prospective clinical study. Participants of this study had no previous ppV on the affected eye. Postoperative follow–up were performed on the first postoperative day, after three and six months. Besides the usual clinical investigations (slit lamp microscopy, indirect ophthalmoscopy, EDTRS visual test, applanation tonometry measurement of the internal ocular pressure, LOCS III classification of cataract) other tests were accomplished including examination of the corneal thickness, the endothelium cell number, the determination of the foveal thickness and electrophysiological investigations in accordance to ISCEV standards . Statistical analyses were performed using Wilcoxon test.
Results: :
The study results showed a signficant visual acuity rise at all postoperative examinations. Although an expected cataract formation at three and six months postoperatively; visual acuities were significantly better (p1=0,024; p2=0,002 for three and six month respectively). The endothelial cell number and corneal thicknesses at all postoperative examinations were not significantly different from preoperative values (p1=0,204; p2=0,126 for endothelial cell number and p3=0,458; p4=0,095 for corneal thickness at three and six months, respectively). Both scotopic and photopic electroretinography did not show any significant changes during follow up.
Conclusions: :
Taurine containing irrigation solutions do not lead to a significant diminution of the funcional integrity of the pigment epithelium and the photoreceptor complex and also to the functional activitiy of the cones. The clinical application of taurine containing rinsing solutions in ppV seems to be safe and reliable.
Keywords: electrophysiology: clinical • taurine • vitreoretinal surgery