Dehydration injury as a possible cause of visual field defect after pars plana vitrectomy for macular hole.
OBJECTIVE
To present the hypothesis that a visual field defect after pars plana vitrectomy for macular hole may be caused by dehydration injury to the nerve fiber layer during the fluid-air exchange.


METHODS
In a consecutive nonrandomized series of 45 operations on 35 eyes of 34 patients with full-thickness macular hole, the surgical method was changed with postoperative visual field testing performed.


RESULTS
The incidence and location of the post-operative visual field defect was affected only by changing the location of the infusion cannula.


CONCLUSIONS
Dehydration injury of the nerve fiber layer during the fluid-air exchange should be considered as a possible cause of visual field defect after pars plana vitrectomy for macular hole.
Welch
J C
JC
D003890:Desiccation; D005131:Eye Injuries / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000473:pathology; D020221:Optic Nerve Injuries; D012167:Retinal Perforations / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D014794:Visual Fields; D014821:Vitrectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*