A Comparison of Immediate and Delayed Vitrectomy for the Management of Vitreous Hemorrhage due to Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

To compare immediate and delayed vitrectomy for the management of vitreous hemorrhage (VH) due to proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Retrospective review of 134 eyes receiving vitrectomy for non-clearing, PDR-associated VH. Primary outcome was area under the vision curve (AUC) in patients receiving immediate (< 30 days) versus delayed (> 30 days) vitrectomy with endolaser.

RESULTS

Forty-six eyes were included, with 17 undergoing immediate (< 30 days) vitrectomy with endolaser and 29 undergoing delayed (> 30 days) vitrectomy with endolaser. Time to vitrectomy was 14.8 days ± 8.26 days compared to 629.6 days ± 894.9 days in the immediate and delayed groups, respectively. AUC was significantly greater for patients undergoing delayed versus immediate vitrectomy (276.1 ± 0.601 logMARtime versus 165.7 ± 0.761 logMARtime; P < .0001). There was no difference in AUC postoperatively for delayed versus immediate surgery. Both groups required significantly less postoperative panretinal photocoagulation (P < .05). Preoperative and final visual acuities were equivalent (immediate: 1.86 ± 0.99 and 0.35 ± 0.25; P = .002; delayed: 1.71 ± 1.05 and 0.31 ± 0.34; P < .0001).

CONCLUSIONS

Immediate vitrectomy with endolaser for PDR-associated VH (< 30 days) decreases time spent with vision loss and the need for adjunctive PRP. Modern vitrectomy is safe and may be considered earlier in VH management.