Visual Outcomes and Incidence of Complications after Vitrectomy for Vitreous Hemorrhage Associated with Retinal Vein Occlusion

Abstract

Purpose : To report the outcomes and incidence of postoperative complications of pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) for vitreous hemorrhage (VH) associated with retinal vein occlusion.

Methods : This retrospective, single-center, consecutive case series examined patients who underwent PPV for VH associated with branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) and central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) between January 2015 and January 2021.

Results : The study included 138 eyes of 138 patients. Overall, 81 (59%) patients had BRVO and 57 (41%) had CRVO. The mean duration between the diagnosis of vitreous hemorrhage and surgery was 79.6±115.3 days. Visual acuity significantly improved from 20/1782 to 20/195 at 6 months and to 20/230 at the final visit (both P<0.001, compared with baseline). The visual acuity at 6 months improved by 3 or more lines in 103 (75%) eyes. Postoperative complications during follow-up included recurrence of VH in 16 (12%) eyes, RRD in 6 (4%) eyes, epiretinal membrane in 34 (25%) eyes, new neovascular glaucoma in 3 eyes (2%), ocular hypertension in 45 (33%) eyes, and macular edema requiring anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) injections in 40 (29%) eyes. Worse final visual acuity was significantly associated with older age (P=0.007), concurrent neovascular glaucoma (P<0.001), CRVO (P<0.001), worse preoperative visual acuity (P<0.001), postoperative new neovascular glaucoma (P=0.021), and postoperative retinal detachment (P<0.001).

Conclusions : PPV is effective for the treatment of vitreous hemorrhage associated with RVO, regardless of the duration of hemorrhage. However, pre-existing and postoperative complications may limit visual recovery.

This abstract was presented at the 2023 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in New Orleans, LA, April 23-27, 2023.

 

Visual Outcomes

 

Factors Associated with the Final LogMAR Visual Acuity