RISK FACTORS FOR HYPOTONY AFTER SUTURELESS VITRECTOMY IN PATIENTS WITH EPIRETINAL MEMBRANE.

PURPOSE: To assess the risk factors for hypotony after sutureless vitrectomy in patients with epiretinal membrane.

METHODS

This retrospective study enrolled patients with epiretinal membrane who underwent vitrectomy at the Kanazawa Medical University. An intraocular pressure of <5 mmHg on the day after surgery was defined as the hypotony group and the other as the nonhypotony group. Background factors were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

This study assessed 126 eyes. Thirteen eyes (10.3%) developed hypotony the day after surgery. Hypotony duration was only the next day for three eyes, within three days for four eyes, 1 week for five eyes, and 2 weeks for one eye. Comparisons between the two groups revealed no substantial differences in age, sex, 25-gauge/27-gauge, peripheral retinal tear, posterior vitreous detachment, or combined cataract surgery/vitrectomy alone. Contrastingly, significant differences were found in the axial length ( P < 0.05) and preoperative glaucoma eye drop use ( P < 0.05). Binary logistic regression analysis revealed that ≥ 26.0 mm axial length (OR 4.577, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.17 to 17.91, P = 0.03) and preoperative glaucoma eyedrops (OR 7.311, 95% CI 1.47-36.45, P = 0.01) were significant risk factors.

CONCLUSION

Patients with epiretinal membrane with long axial lengths or preoperative glaucoma eye drop treatment should be carefully monitored for hypotony after vitrectomy; nevertheless, most patients spontaneously recover within a week.