[Complications of minimally invasive vitreous surgery can not be ignored]

Pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) has become an important means of treating complex vitreoretinopathy, and the introduction of small-gauge PPV instrumentation and techniques has even considerably widened the surgery choice. Though the small-gauge PPV systems have many advantages, ophthalmologists must realize that the small-gauge PPV does not necessarily refer to minimally invasive PPV. Ophthalmologists should not just pursue the small incision, ignore the principle of minimally invasive PPV and the rational choice of indications, and underestimate surgical risks and postoperative complications. Ophthalmologists must be familiar with the advantages and limitations of minimally invasive PPV so as to achieve the best therapeutic effects with minimized trauma. (Chin J Ophthalmol, 2017, 53: 321-324).