Vitreoretinal surgery in diabetic patients on hemodialysis

The present paper reports our first results after pars plana vitrectomy in patients with diabetic retinopathy and hemodialysis with a follow-up of 6 to 24 months. Between January 1992 and October 1994 we performed vitreoretinal surgery with silicone oil tamponade in nine eyes of seven patients with diabetic nephropathy on hemodialysis. All patients had had type I diabetes for 19-32 years. Over the observation period the retina was completely attached in eight eyes. Final visual acuity of 0.1-0.7 was attained in four eyes, 0.06 two, hand movements in one eye. Two eyes had no useful final visual acuity because of redetachment of the retina or secondary glaucoma with rubeosis iridis. The small number of complications shows that pars plana vitrectomy can be done in diabetic patients with nephropathy on hemodialysis. This significantly improves their quality of life.