Outcomes of 25-gauge vitrectomy with relaxing retinectomy for retinal detachment secondary to proliferative vitreoretinopathy.

PURPOSE

The aim of this study is to evaluate visual and anatomic outcomes of 25-gauge vitrectomy with relaxing retinectomies for complex retinal detachment (RD) secondary to proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR).

METHODS

A single-center, retrospective case series of 44 patients who had undergone a 25-gauge vitrectomy with a relaxing retinectomy for the treatment of combined RD and PVR was performed. Pre-operative characteristics, intraoperative techniques, and outcomes were analyzed. The rates of attachment, complications, and visual acuity were analyzed. Institutional Review Board/Ethics Committee approval was obtained and the described research adhered to the tenets of the Declaration of Helsinki.

RESULTS

At the final follow-up, 27 eyes (61%) had attachment after one surgery, 41 eyes (93%) ultimately had attached retinas, 3 eyes (7%) had hypotony, 3 eyes had become phthisical (7%), and 24 eyes (56%) had improved visual acuity. After stratifying by visual outcomes, 20/400 or better BCVA was not associated with age (=0.66), RD etiology (=0.61), pre-operative hypotony (=0.60), nor size of retinectomy (=0.48). Patients achieving 20/400 vision or better were statistically more likely to be pseudophakic (=0.024) and have silicone oil removal (<0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

The use of 25-gauge vitrectomy and relaxing retinectomy provides a high rate of reattachment and improved visual acuity.