Panretinal photocoagulation influence on virectomy results for complications of diabetic retinopathy

Despite panretinal photocoagulation (PRP), some diabetic eyes develop complications that are correctable with vitrectomy. The results of vitrectomy performed on 80 eyes having pre-vitrectomy PRP are compared with 402 eyes without photocoagulation. The preoperative findings and operative procedures were almost identical, except the PRP cases had a slightly higher incidence of preoperative iris rubeosis and traction macular detachments, and more surgical membrane peeling. Six months after vitrectomy, the PRP eyes had slightly better visual acuities and fewer detached maculas, but were otherwise almost identical to the non-photocoagulated eyes. There was no evidence that pre-vitrectomy PRP prevents postoperative iris rubeosis.