Estimating the volume of the vitrectomized space using axial length: a guideline

The volume of the vitreous chamber varies with the size of the eye. The space created in the vitreous cavity by a vitrectomy is called the vitrectomized space. The volume of the vitrectomized space is strongly correlated with the axial length of the eye. This study aims to present guidelines for estimating the using participants stratified by axial length, sex, and history of cataract surgery.

This retrospective, observational, cross-sectional study included 144 randomly selected participants who underwent vitrectomies between 2013 and 2023. Before surgery, the axial lengths of participants' eyes were measured using optical biometrics. The axial lengths of the eyes in our sample were between 20-32 mm. In all cases, a complete vitrectomy was performed, followed by complete fluid-air exchange and injection of a balanced saline solution. The volume infused was recorded.

The median (interquartile range; range) volume of the vitrectomized space was 6.1 (3.8; 3.1-11.3) mL in men and 6.1 (3.3; 3.2-11.2) mL in women (p = 0.811). The median volume of the vitrectomized space was 5.9 (3.6; 3.1-11.2) mL in patients with phakic lenses and 6.25 (3.6; 3.3-11.3) mL in those with pseudophakic lenses (p=0.533). A positive correlation was found between the axial length and the volume of the vitrectomized space in this sample (r=0.968; p<0.001). In a cubic polynomial regression, the coefficient of determination was 0.948. Similar results were observed in both sexes and in both phakic and pseudophakic patients. The estimated cubic polynomial regression equation for this sample was VVS = 0.000589052857847605 × AL 3 - 0.025114926401582700 × AL 2 + 0.685961117595624000 × AL - 5.088226672620790000.

We developed this axial length estimation of the volume of vitrectomized space as a guideline for the determination of vitrectomized space volume using axial length.