[Vitrectomy via pars plana. A histological study and an analysis of clinical results (author's transl)]

The histological examination of the vitreous body after partial vitrectomy in the rabbit eye shows a rarefication and coarsening of the vitreous fibres after refilling the vitreous cavity either with sodium hyaluronate, regular Ringer solution or with Ringer-lactate solution containing dextrose and sodiumbicarbonate. An analysis of postoperative results of 139 eyes yields the following conclusions: 1. Removal of clear lenses is not justified since following vitrectomy the vitreous body in aphakes is not significantly clearer than in phakic eyes. 2. Moderate lens opacities do not constitute an indication for cataract surgery, they have been found to progress following vitrectomy only in 5% of the cases. 2. Important factors in the development of postoperative keratopathy are: Presence or absence of the corneal epithelium, type of contact lens used, age of the patient, stage of a diabetic retinopathy, duration of the surgical procedure, and the combined removal of lens and vitreous body via pars plana. 4. Rubeosis iridis indicates a terminal stage of the diabetic retinopathy and cannot be considered a complication of vitrectomy. 5. Postoperative haemorrhage occur at almost equal rate either with or without the intraocular application of daithermy, however, diathermy-coagulation has been applied only in advanced stages of proliferative diabetic retinopathy. 6. In the course of lavage of the vitreous cavity in cases of recurrent haemorrhages a progression of diabetic retinopathy was usually observed. Vitreous lavage within short periods of time, preferentially with 6 to 8 weeks following the initial procedure is therefore recommended in cases of recurrent haemorrhages.