Safety, efficacy, and quality of life following sutureless vitrectomy for symptomatic vitreous floaters.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

To determine the safety, efficacy, and quality of life improvement following sutureless 25-gauge pars plana vitrectomy for symptomatic floaters.

METHODS:

Patients with symptomatic vitreous floaters who underwent sutureless vitrectomy between January 2008 and January 2011 were included. Data were collected regarding baseline preoperative characteristics, postoperative outcomes, complications, and a nine-item quality-of-life survey completed by each patient.

RESULTS:

One hundred and sixty-eight eyes (143 patients) underwent sutureless 25-gauge pars plana vitrectomy for symptomatic vitreous floaters. Mean Snellen visual acuity was 20/40 preoperatively and improved to 20/25 postoperatively (P < 0.0001). Iatrogenic retinal breaks occurred in 12 of 168 eyes (7.1%). Intraoperative posterior vitreous detachment induction was not found to increase the risk of retinal breaks (P = 1.000). Postoperative complications occurred in three eyes, of which one had transient cystoid macular edema and two had transient vitreous hemorrhage. Approximately 88.8% of patients completed a quality-of-life survey, which revealed that 96% were "satisfied" with the results of the operation, and 94% rated the experience as a "complete success."

CONCLUSION:

Sutureless 25-gauge pars plana vitrectomy for symptomatic vitreous floaters improved visual acuity, resulted in a high patient satisfaction quality-of-life survey, and had a low rate of postoperative complications. Sutureless pars plana vitrectomy should be considered as a viable means of managing patients with symptomatic vitreous floaters.

• Authors: John O Mason 3rd, Michael G Neimkin, John O Mason 4th, Duncan A Friedman, Richard M Feist, Martin L Thomley, Michael A Albert
• Journal: Retina (Philadelphia, Pa.) (Retina) Vol. 34 Issue 6 Pg. 1055-61 (Jun 2014) ISSN: 1539-2864 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 24384616 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Eye Diseases (surgery)
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Patient Satisfaction
• Postoperative Complications
• Quality of Life
• Suture Techniques
• Visual Acuity
• Vitrectomy (adverse effects, methods)