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Rubeosis iridis after vitrectomy for diabetic retinopathy
H Helbig1, U Kellner, N Bornfeld
1Universitätsklinikum Benjamin Franklin, Freie Universität Berlin, Germany.
Background:
Iris rubeosis and neovascular glaucoma (NVG) are serious complications of vitrectomy for proliferative diabetic retinopathy. The present study analyzes incidence and risk factors of these complications.
Methods:
Preoperative and postoperative iris rubeosis were compared in 389 diabetic eyes after vitrectomy. Minimum follow-up was 6 months (median 26 months). Risk factors were studied using multivariate logistic regression analysis.
Results:
Following vitrectomy, in 8.5% of the eyes stromal iris rubeosis developed de novo; NVG occurred in 5%. Significant risk factors for postoperative rubeosis were preexisting iris neovascularizations and postoperative retinal detachment. Six months after surgery, regression of preexisting iris rubeosis was observed in 57% of the eyes. In eyes without preoperative iris rubeosis, progression was found in 13% of cases 6 months postoperatively.
Conclusion:
With current surgical techniques iris rubeosis is more commonly regressive than progressive after vitreous surgery in diabetic eyes.