Anatomic and functional outcomes of 25-gauge vitrectomy for repair of eyes with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment complicated by proliferative vitreoretinopathy.

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcome of 25-gauge vitrectomy for repair of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) complicated by proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR).

Methods: Twenty-seven eyes of 27 patients who had undergone 25-gauge vitrectomy for grade C PVR were investigated retrospectively. The surgical procedures, anatomic success, and best-corrected visual acuity were assessed.

Results: The mean number of operations was 1.4 (range 1-4). During the 25-gauge vitrectomy, 20-gauge instruments were needed in eleven eyes (40.7%) to remove resilient fibrous preretinal membranes, to extract subretinal proliferations, or to remove or infuse silicone oil. The retina was reattached in 21 eyes (77.8%) after the initial vitrectomy and in 25 eyes (92.6%) at the final examination. The mean best-corrected visual acuity in logarithm of the minimal angle of resolution units was 1.36 ± 0.81 before vitrectomy and 0.79 ± 0.71 at one month, 0.73 ± 0.72 at 3 months, 0.73 ± 0.75 at 6 months, and 0.75 ± 0.78 at 12 months after vitrectomy. The best-corrected visual acuities were significantly improved compared with the preoperative ones at all postoperative assessments (P<0.001).

Conclusion: Twenty-five gauge vitrectomy is a relatively safe and efficacious method of treating RRD with PVR, although combined use of 20-gauge instruments may be needed for certain surgical procedures.