Original Article

Factors Which Effect Final Visual Acuity In Eyes With Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy That Underwent Pars Plana Vitrectomy

  • Mehmet Çakır
  • Başak Yılmaz
  • Osman Çekiç
  • Ercüment Bozkurt
  • Şükrü Bayraktar
  • Ömer Faruk Yılmaz

Received Date: 15.01.2008 Accepted Date: 07.03.2008 Turk J Ophthalmol 2008;38(2):152-157

Purpose:

To investigate the factors which affect postoperative visual acuity in patients un-derwent pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) for diabetic retinopathy.

Material and Methods:

Forty two eyes of 42 patients (mean age 57 years) who underwent PPV for proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) were included in this study. Pre- and postoperative visual acuity, anterior and posterior segment examination findings and peroperative and postoperative complications were recorded.

Results:

Mean follow up time was 6.3 ± 3.9 (± SEM) months (range, 3-15 months). The most common indication for PPV was persistent vitreous hemorrhage (n=21, 50%). Eighteen patients (43%) underwent PPV for tractional retinal detachment (TRD) and/or tractional macu-lar detachment (TMD) with vitreous hemorrhage. Final visual acuity after PPV increased at le-ast 1 Snellen line in 67% of patients, decreased in 10% of patients, remained stable in 24% of patients. The most common complications during operation were retinal microhemorrhage (5%) and iatrogenic retinal detachment (5%). The most common complication reported at early postoperative examinations was transiently increased intraocular pressure (14%). Cataract develop-ment was detected in 26% of patients during late postoperative examinations. Postoperative Snellen visual acuity (0.13 ± 0.05) after PPV in eyes with TRD was lower than that of (0.20 ± 0.05) eyes without PDR (P=0.04). Factors which did not effect final visual acuity were type of diabetes mellitus (P=0.07), sex (P=0.11), preoperative panretinal photocoagulation (P=0.79) and tamponade type used during operation (P=0.26).

Discussion:

PPV procedure has favorable effects on the anatomical and visual prognosis in eyes with PDR. PPV improves visual acuity better in eyes without TRD than that with PDR.

Keywords: Proliferative diabetic retinopathy, pars plana vitrectomy, intravitreal hemorrhage, tractional retinal detachment

Full Text (Turkish)