[Vitrectomy for vitreous hemorrhage caused by retinal vein occlusion]

To evaluate the efficacy and complications of vitrectomy for vitreous hemorrhage after retinal vein occlusion.

We retrospectively studied 47 patients (47 eyes) having undergone vitrectomy during the period from April, 1992 to December, 1996. Follow-up was made on 30 patients.

(1) Visual acuity was improved postoperatively in 80% of the eyes. The patients with branch vein occlusion achieved more favorable final vision than those with central retinal vein occlusion (P < 0.05). (2) The most common complications were lens opacity, recurrent vitreous hemorrhage, iatrogenic rhegmatogenous retinal detachment and glaucoma. (3) Patients treated with endophotocoagulation had a lower rate of recurrent vitreous hemorrhage (P < 0.05).

(1) More than half of the patients can achieve ambulant vision after vitrectomy for vitrous hemorrhage induced by retinal vein occlusion. (2) Recurrent vitreous hemorrhage can be effectively prevented by endophotocoagulation during the operation.