Transconjunctival Sutureless Vitrectomy for the Treatment of Vitreoretinal Complications in Patients With Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

Clinical Science Sung Jae Yang, MD; Sam Young Yoon, MD; June-gone Kim, MD; Young Hee Yoon, MD To compare the safety and effectiveness of 25-gauge transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy (TSV) with conventional 20-gauge pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) for the treatment of vitreoretinal complications in patients with diabetic retinopathy. Forty-five eyes of 44 consecutive patients with diabetes mellitus who had undergone 25-gauge TSV for the treatment of vitreous hemorrhage, traction retinal detachment, or diabetic macular edema and 45 control patients with diabetes mellitus who had undergone conventional 20-gauge PPV were studied. The mean duration of surgery in the 25-gauge TSV group was statistically significantly shorter than that in the 20-gauge PPV group. The mean visual acuity at both 1 week and 1 month after surgery was statistically significantly better in the 25-gauge TSV group than in the 20-gauge PPV group. Complications in the 25-gauge TSV group were similar to those in the 20-gauge PPV group. A shorter operation time and faster recovery of postoperative visual acuity were the main advantages of using 25-gauge TSV. Despite its limitations, 25-gauge TSV can be safely used for the treatment of vitreoretinal complications in patients with diabetes mellitus. From the Department of Ophthalmology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan, College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. Supported by a grant from the Korea Healthcare Technology R&D Project, Ministry of Health, Welfare, and Family Affairs, Republic of Korea (#A080557). The authors have no financial or proprietary interest in the materials presented herein. Address correspondence to Young Hee Yoon, MD, Department of Ophthalmology, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, 138-736, Korea. 10.3928/15428877-20090901-04 Healio is intended for health care provider use and all comments will be posted at the discretion of the editors. We reserve the right not to post any comments with unsolicited information about medical devices or other products. At no time will Healio be used for medical advice to patients.