VITRECTOMY FOR DIABETIC COMPLICATIONS: A Pooled Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials Using Modern Techniques and...

To report updated clinical outcomes in subjects undergoing pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) using modern techniques and equipment for the treatment of proliferative diabetic retinopathy-related complications. Pooled analysis of five randomized clinical trials conducted at the same institution and included both study and control subjects from the trials.

There were 943 subjects who prospectively underwent small-gauge PPV with antivascular endothelial growth factor pretreatment for proliferative diabetic retinopathy-related complications and completed 6-month follow-up.

The visual acuity of the study population improved from median 2.00 (interquartile range 1.3, 2.3) at baseline to median 1.00 (interquartile range 0.5, 1.3) at 6 months. One hundred and eighty-four patients (19.5%) achieved 20/50 or better acuity, and 652 patients (69.1%) achieved 20/200 or better acuity at 6 months. The vision improved or remained stable in 901 patients (95.5%), and 11 patients (1.2%) developed no light perception at 6 months. Intraoperative complications occurred in 343 cases (36.4%), and 199 cases (21.1%) experienced a postoperative complication. The most common postoperative complication was vitreous hemorrhage in 124 cases (62.3% of all complications). Unplanned secondary PPV was necessary in 86 cases (9.1%).

This study reports updated clinical outcomes in patients undergoing PPV for proliferative diabetic retinopathy-related complications which compares favorably with the age before small-gauge PPV and antivascular endothelial growth factor pretreatment.