[Vitrectomy for asteroid hyalosis]

To evaluate the role of pars plana vitrectomy for asteroid hyalosis and synchisys scintillans with decrease of visual acuity.

Retrospective study of 15 patients on whom pars plana vitrectomy was performed. We studied the visual acuity before the surgery, the best and the final vision. Risk vascular factors, intraocular pressure, complications during the surgery or in the follow up were determined.

We operated on 17 eyes of 15 patients (10 male, 5 female). In 2 cases we added peeling of macular pucker and in two cases a cataract surgery. Average age was 73.8 (standard deviation 8.6); risk vascular factors were found in 66.6%. There weren't any complications during the surgery. Later, 4 cataracts, 3 macular pucker and 1 macular hole (stage IV) developed. The average vision before the surgery was 20/60, the best 20/40 and the final vision 20/50. Average follow up time was 22.8 (s.d. 17.3) months.

Asteroid hialosis was more frequent in elderly males (2/3) and in patients with risk vascular factors (66.6%). Cataract surgery was necessary in 50% of eyes during or after the pars plana vitrectomy. Seventeen percent of eyes presented macular pucker in the follow up. Recovery of vision was less than expected.