Comparison of Clinical Features After 20-Gauge Vitrectomy Versus 23-Gauge Vitrectomy.

Purpose: To compare the clinical features after 20-gauge (20G) versus 23-gauge (23G) pars plana vitrectomy (PPV).

Design: This was a prospective observational study.

Methods: Patients who underwent 20G or 23G PPV participated in the study. Sutures were used in all patients who had 20G and as necessary in patients who had 23G. All patients were examined with ultrasound biomicroscopy and tonometry for intraocular pressure (IOP) preoperatively and postoperatively at 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, and 6 months.

Results: Forty-nine eyes underwent 20G PPV and 97 eyes underwent 23G PPV. Hypotony appeared more frequently in the 23G group (9 patients of 97, 9%) than in the 20G group (1 patient of 49, 2%) 1 day after surgery. Mean IOP was statistically significantly lower in the 23G group 1 day after surgery (P = 0.000). Postoperatively, choroidal detachment (CD) was found in both the 23G group (22/97, 23%) and the 20G group (1/49, 2%). In the 23G group, the mean IOP of eyes with CD was significantly lower than those without CD. There was no statistically significant difference in vitreous incarceration between the 2 groups (P = 0.317).

Conclusions: Choroidal detachment and hypotony were common complications in the early stages after 23G PPV. The incidence of postoperative vitreous incarceration was similar in both groups.