The outcomes of pars plana vitrectomy without endotamponade for tractional retinal detachment secondary to proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

AIM: To evaluate the outcomes of pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) without the use of an ocular tamponade in patients having tractional retinal detachment (TRD) secondary to proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR).

METHODS

It was an interventional study conducted at the Department of Ophthalmology, B.V. Hospital, Bahawalpur, Pakistan, from July 2011 to July 2012. A total of 75 patients (84 eyes) having TRD secondary to PDR were treated by PPV without using an ocular tamponade. All patients included in the study had a tractional retinal detachment secondary to proliferative diabetic retinopathy but didn't have or develop retinal breaks before or during the study period. The surgical procedure included a PPV combined with the removal of the tractional retinal membranes and the application of endolaser photocoagulation to the retina. The mean follow-up period was 12 months.

RESULTS

Successful retinal reattachement was observed in 78 of the operated eyes (92.8%). In these patients, the retina remained attached till the end of the one year follow-up period. Improvement in best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was seen in 63 eyes (75%). The visual acuity remained unchanged in 9 eyes (10.7%). Mean improvement in BCVA was 2.00+1.24 at baseline to 1.24+1.22 (P<0.05) at the end of the follow-up period.

CONCLUSION

In the absence of the retinal breaks, a TRD secondary to PDR can be successfully treated by pars plana vitrectomy without the use of an ocular tamponade.