rss
Br J Ophthalmol 2008;92:365-368 doi:10.1136/bjo.2007.124495
  • Original Article
    • Clinical science

Predictive clinical features and outcomes of vitrectomy for proliferative diabetic retinopathy

  1. D Yorston1,
  2. L Wickham2,
  3. S Benson2,
  4. C Bunce2,
  5. R Sheard2,
  6. D Charteris2
  1. 1
    Tennent Institute of Ophthalmology, Gartnavel Hospital, Glasgow, Scotland, UK
  2. 2
    Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, UK
  1. Dr D Yorston, Tennent Institute of Ophthalmology, Gartnavel Hospital, Great Western Road, Glasgow G12 0YN, Scotland, UK; dhyorston{at}enterprise.net
  • Accepted 30 December 2007

Abstract

Objective: To study the preoperative characteristics, complications and outcomes of vitrectomy for proliferative diabetic retinopathy and to identify any factors that may predict visual outcome.

Methods: Prospective study of 174 consecutive vitrectomies in 148 patients, with a minimum follow-up of 4 months.

Results: 41 (27.7%) patients had a vision of <6/60 in their better eye at presentation. Posterior retinal breaks occurred in 47 (27.0%) eyes. Postoperative complications included vitreous cavity haemorrhage in 37 (22.0%) eyes, retinal detachment in five eyes (3.0%), and rubeotic glaucoma in five eyes (3.0%). 124 (74.7%) eyes improved by at least 0.3 LogMAR units, and 15 (9.0%) worsened by at least 0.3 LogMAR units. 119 (71.7%) eyes had a visual acuity of 6/60 or better, and 27 (16.3%) were counting fingers or worse. Only 16 (11.1%) patients had a vision of <6/60 in both eyes at latest follow-up. Preoperative vision in both the operated eye and the contralateral eye, macular detachment, and long-acting intraocular tamponade were independent predictors of poor postoperative vision, but this model accounted for only a small proportion of the observed variation in outcomes.

Conclusions: Major complications are rare after vitrectomy for proliferative diabetic retinopathy, and >70% of eyes will regain vision of 6/60 or better. Visual outcomes remain unpredictable.

Footnotes

  • Competing interests: None declared.

This Article

  1. Abstract
  2. Full text
  3. PDF

Responses

  1. Submit a response
  2. No responses published

Register for free content

The full back archive is now available for all BMJ Journals. Institutional subscribers may access the entire archive as part of their subscription. Personal subscribers will also have access to all content when logged in. Non-subscribers who register have free access to all articles published before 2006 right back to volume 1 issue 1. Register here to access the free archive of all BMJ Journals.

Don't forget to sign up for content alerts so you keep up to date with all the articles as they are published.