[Vitreous body floaters and vitrectomy with full visual acuity].

PURPOSE

To evaluate the role of vitrectomy in patients with visually disturbing vitreous body floaters and full visual acuity (VA).

METHODS

A total of 9 eyes from 8 patients (2 female, 7 male, median age 57 years) with a preoperative VA of 1.0 were analysed retrospectively. The median duration of symptoms was 12 months. In all eyes a pars plana vitrectomy was performed. The median follow-up period was 13 months.

RESULTS

No intraoperative or postoperative complications were observed. In all patients vision improved subjectively and objective VA remained unchanged. In 2 out of 5 phacic patients a cataract extraction was performed during the follow-up period.

CONCLUSIONS

In a selected group of patients vitrectomy can improve subjective vision even in eyes with full objective VA. A critical patient selection with respect to psychological criteria and the individual risk of vitrectomy is extremely important.