Pars plana vitrectomy in the management of intraocular inflammation

To evaluate the role of pars plana vitrectomy in the management of intraocular inflammation with dense vitreous opacification, vitrectomy was performed in 14 patients with chronic uveitis, 6 eyes with retinal periphlebitis, and in 8 cases of endophthalmitis. Visual acuity improved in 21 eyes, remained unchanged in 3, and deteriorated in 4 cases (follow-up period 2 months to 3 years). Pre-existing retinal damage such as cystoid macular oedema or degeneration restricted final visual acuity. In most eyes inflammation (aqueous flare and cells) diminished, except in hypotonic eyes with chronic iridocyclitis, which also gained little in vision. The results indicate that vitrectomy is valuable in the treatment of chronic uveitis with vitreous opacification due to cellular invasion and membrane formation, in periphlebitis with vitreous hemorrhages, and in endophthalmitis.