Subfoveal fluid resolves slowly after pars plana vitrectomy for tractional retinal detachment secondary to proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

PURPOSE: To report delayed visual recovery resulting from slow resolution of subfoveal subretinal fluid measured with optical coherence tomography (OCT) after pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) for repair of tractional retinal detachment (TRD) involving the fovea secondary to proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR).

METHOD: In this retrospective case series, charts of three patients with persistent subfoveal fluid after PPV for TRD secondary to PDR were reviewed. All patients were followed up for a minimum of 1 year after surgery, using OCT and serial ophthalmic examination.

RESULTS

Subfoveal fluid resolved completely after a minimum of 6 months after PPV as measured by OCT. All three patients had improvement in visual acuity after subfoveal fluid was completely resolved.

CONCLUSION

Persistent subfoveal fluid may take several months to resolve in patients undergoing PPV to repair TRD secondary to PDR and account for delayed visual recovery. OCT is an important tool in the follow-up of patients undergoing vitrectomy for TRD.