Results of conventional vitreous surgery for proliferative vitreoretinopathy

During a five-year period (1978 through 1982), we used conventional vitreous surgery techniques to treat patients who had recurrent retinal detachment as the result of proliferative vitreoretinopathy. At a six-month follow-up, 24 (33%) of 72 patients achieved total retinal reattachment; 14 patients regained ambulatory vision (5/200 or better) after one operation. Only 12 patients were reoperated on; four achieved retinal reattachment. Anatomic success correlated with a lesser grade of proliferative vitreoretinopathy and an absence of detectable retinal breaks. Creation of iatrogenic retinal tears and broad scleral buckling and an extended interval between the initial detachment and vitreous surgery did not improve the prognosis.