Twenty-five gauge vitrectomy in uveitis

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate anatomical and functional results of 25-gauge transconjunctival sutureless pars plana vitrectomy in patients with uveitis. Methods: Vitrectomy was performed on 20 eyes with residual vitritis secondary to infectious and noninfectious uveitis. Patients were evaluated 1 week before surgery and after surgery at day 1, week 1, week 4 and week 12. Visual acuity (VA), intraocular pressure, anterior chamber cells and flare and vitreous haze were measured. Results: Mean VA improved from 2.06 ± 0.94 logMAR before surgery to 0.58 ± 0.46 logMAR at week 12 (p<0.05). No case required conversion to standard 20-gauge instrumentation or suture placement, no intraoperative complications were noted. Transient postoperative hypotony was seen in three eyes. One patient with toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis had a relapse during follow-up. Conclusion: 25-gauge vitrectomy has proven its efficacy on cleansing vitreous opacities and improving visual acuity on patients with residual vitritis secondary to uveitis with minimal postoperative inflammation and complications.