Faster visual recovery after 23-gauge vitrectomy compared with 20-gauge vitrectomy

To evaluate whether 23-gauge (23 G) pars plana vitrectomy is associated with earlier visual recovery compared with standard 20-gauge (20 G) pars plana vitrectomy.

Retrospective chart review of patients who underwent pars plana vitrectomy for various indications was performed. Thirty consecutive eyes in each group of 23-G and 20-G pars plana vitrectomy were analyzed. The mean decimal acuity of each patient was recorded at baseline, Day 1, and Weeks 1 and 6. The visual acuity on postoperative Day 1 and Week 1 was calculated as a proportion of the visual acuity at Week 6. The primary outcome measure was the rate of gain in visual acuity. The secondary outcome measures were intraocular pressure and surgical time.

The baseline visual acuity between the two groups was similar. The mean visual acuity on Day 1 (0.05 ± 0.09 20 G versus 0.16 ± 0.18 23 G; Snellen equivalent 20/400 versus 20/125; P = 0.004) and Week 1 (0.12 ± 0.20 20 G versus 0.30 ± 0.27 23 G; Snellen equivalent 20/160 versus 20/63; P = 0.002) was significantly better in the 23-G pars plana vitrectomy group. There was no significant difference in best-corrected Snellen visual acuity at Week 6 between the 2 groups. Eighty-three percent of the mean final visual acuity was attained by Week 1 in the 23-G group compared with only 43% in the 20-G group.

Twenty-three gauge pars plana vitrectomy is associated with faster visual recovery compared with 20-G pars plana vitrectomy.