Rubeosis iridis after vitrectomy for diabetic retinopathy.
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.


CONCLUSIONS
With current surgical techniques iris rubeosis is more commonly regressive than progressive after vitreous surgery in diabetic eyes.
Helbig
H
H
Universitätsklinikum Benjamin Franklin, Freie Universität Berlin, Germany.
Kellner
U
U
Bornfeld
N
N
Foerster
M H
MH
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D015355:Glaucoma, Neovascular / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007498:Iris / Q000098:blood supply; D007499:Iris Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000150:complications; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012307:Risk Factors; D014821:Vitrectomy