VITRECTOMY FOR VITREOUS HEMORRHAGE ASSOCIATED WITH RETINAL VEIN OCCLUSION: Visual Outcomes, Prognostic Factors, and...

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Retinal Diseases
• Surgical Interventions

Background:

• Vitreous hemorrhage (VH) secondary to retinal vein occlusion (RVO) presents a significant challenge to visual function.
• Pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) is a surgical option for managing persistent VH, but its efficacy and prognostic factors in RVO require further elucidation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the outcomes of pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) in patients with vitreous hemorrhage (VH) caused by retinal vein occlusion (RVO).
• To identify prognostic indicators influencing visual recovery after PPV for VH in RVO.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 138 eyes undergoing PPV for VH associated with RVO between 2015 and 2021.
• Data collected included patient demographics, RVO type (branch or central), duration of VH, surgical details, postoperative complications, and visual acuity outcomes.
• Statistical analysis was performed to identify factors associated with final visual acuity.

Main Results:

• Significant visual acuity improvement was observed post-PPV, with 75% of eyes gaining three or more lines of vision at 6 months.
• Common postoperative complications included recurrent VH (12%) and retinal detachment (4%).
• Worse final visual acuity was correlated with older age, concurrent or new neovascular glaucoma, central RVO, and worse preoperative visual acuity.

Conclusions:

• Pars plana vitrectomy is an effective treatment for vitreous hemorrhage in retinal vein occlusion, irrespective of hemorrhage duration.
• Pre-existing risk factors and postoperative complications, such as neovascular glaucoma and retinal detachment, can negatively impact visual recovery.