SURGICAL OUTCOMES IN CONCURRENT SICKLE CELL AND DIABETIC RETINOPATHY

Abstract

Purpose: To report the clinical features and outcomes in eyes that underwent vitreoretinal surgery for complications of concurrent sickle cell retinopathy and diabetic retinopathy. Methods: Retrospective, consecutive case series of all eyes that underwent vitreoretinal surgery for complications secondary to concurrent sickle cell retinopathy and diabetic retinopathy between January 01, 2014, and December 31, 2021. Results: The study included 20 eyes of 14 patients. Indications for surgery included tractional retinal detachment in 12 eyes (60%), combined tractional retinal detachment/ rhegmatogenous retinal detachment in 6 eyes (30%), and vitreous hemorrhage in 2 eyes (10%). Pars plana vitrectomy was performed in all eyes. One eye received a scleral buckle at the same time as pars plana vitrectomy. There was no change in mean best-corrected visual acuity at the last follow-up examination (1.5 [20/678]) when compared with mean preoperative best-corrected visual acuity (1.6 [20/762], P = 0.83). Preoperative best-corrected visual acuity correlated with postoperative best-corrected visual acuity at the last follow-up examination in eyes with retinal detachment (r = 0.49, P = 0.04). Single operation anatomic success was achieved in 11 of 17 eyes (65%) with retinal detachment. Conclusion: Functional and anatomic outcomes after surgery in eyes with concurrent sickle cell retinopathy and diabetic retinopathy are relatively poor.