Familial exudative vitreoretinopathy. Results of surgical management

The purpose of the study was to report the results of surgical management of familial exudative vitreoretinopathy (FEVR).

The study design was a retrospective clinical study.

A consecutive series of 52 eyes of 26 patients with FEVR were studied.

All eyes underwent a complete ocular examination and were graded using a new classification system. Depending on the severity of disease, eyes were treated with peripheral laser photocoagulation, scleral buckling, or vitrectomy.

Preoperative and postoperative visual functions and anatomic status of the macula were the main parameters evaluated.

A total of 40 eyes were treated. Seven eyes required no treatment and five eyes had inoperable retinal detachments. Fifteen eyes were treated with peripheral laser ablation initially and 25 eyes presenting with retinal detachments required vitreoretinal surgery. Of the 15 eyes treated initially with laser, 8 eyes required no further treatment, whereas 7 eyes progressed to retinal detachment requiring vitreoretinal surgery. A total of 32 eyes (including 7 previously lasered eyes) underwent vitreoretinal surgery. Twenty-nine of these 32 eyes had at least 6 months of follow-up. At the last follow-up visit, the macula was attached completely in 18 eyes (62.1%). Visual acuity ranged from 20/25 to light perception, with 10 (34.5%) of the 29 eyes achieving Snellen acuities of 20/100 or better. Two eyes (6.3%) progressed to no light perception.

These data suggest that surgical intervention can be beneficial in selected cases of FEVR.