Combined pars plana vitrectomy and retinal surgery in massive periretinal proliferation

Thirty-two patients with retinal detachment and massive periretinal proliferation underwent combined vitreous and retinal surgery. The cases were divided into two groups: 18 patients primarily operated on and 14 patients with a history of previous unsuccessful retinal surgery. Successful reattachment was accomplished in 13 eyes of the first group (70%), with a mean follow-up period of 8.5 +/- 1.9 months. In the second group, reattachment was accomplished in seven eyes (50%) followed for 11.4 +/- 2.3 months. Visual improvement was achieved in 61% and 29% of eyes in the first and second groups, respectively. These results indicate that eyes with retinal detachment and massive periretinal proliferation following retinal surgery have a much worse prognosis than patients who were not previously operated on.