Pars plana vitrectomy relieves the depression in patients with symptomatic vitreous floaters

To investigate the depressive state among the patients with symptomatic vitreous floaters (SVF), as well as its change after SVF removal via vitrectomy surgery.

Twenty-eight eyes of 28 patients who underwent 27-gauge pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) for SVF were included. Thirty-nine eyes of 39 age- and gender-matched healthy volunteers without SVF were also recruited as a healthy control. Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) was used to assess volunteers and patients' depression (before and 1wk after PPV).

The CES-D score was 18.3±8.6 for patients, and was 12.4±6.0 for healthy control (P=0.003). Patients were significantly more likely to be in a depressive state (53.6%, defined as CES-D score ≥16) than the healthy control (20.5%, P=0.005). For patients with SVF, the CES-D score was negatively correlated with their age (r _s=-0.42, P=0.025). After PPV, both the CES-D score (11.9±5.4 vs 18.3±8.6, P<0.001) and proportion of depressive state (18.5% vs 53.6%, P=0.005) were significantly decreased.

This study suggests that symptoms of vitreous floaters have an apparently negative impact on patients' psychological state. The PPV can effectively relieve the depressive state for patients with SVF.