The effect of pars plana vitrectomy in the management of Fuchs heterochromic cyclitis.
OBJECTIVE
Fuchs heterochromic cyclitis (FHC) is characterized by a unilateral chronic iridocyclitis of insidious onset and uncertain cause. Our aim was to evaluate the effect of vitreous surgery in patients with FHC and clinically significant visual symptoms caused by inflammatory vitreous debris.


METHODS
This study was a review of 12 eyes of 12 consecutive patients with FHC who underwent pars plana vitrectomy for visually significant vitreous opacities. Cataract extraction with posterior chamber lens implantation had been performed on four eyes preoperatively. Four eyes had a concomitant lensectomy for cataracts, and one had a surgical posterior capsulotomy. Visual and anatomic data were recorded before surgery and for at least 6 months after surgery.


RESULTS
Visual acuity improved in all patients from an average logMAR of 0.57 to 0.007 (P = 0.0004) and by more than 2 Snellen lines in 8 of 12 of the eyes (P < 0.05). Symptoms of floaters resolved in all 11 patients in whom they were a symptom. Vitreous haze was cleared completely from an average Nussenblatt grade of 1.7 to 0 after 1 week (P = 0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
Pars plana vitrectomy is a safe and effective treatment for the visual symptoms associated with FHC and can be combined safely with a lensectomy if required.
Scott
R A
RA
Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, United Kingdom.
Sullivan
P M
PM
Aylward
G W
GW
Pavésio
C E
CE
Charteris
D G
DG
D000328:Adult; D002387:Cataract Extraction; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015863:Iridocyclitis / Q000601:surgery*; D019654:Lens Implantation, Intraocular; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019591:Pseudophakia / Q000150:complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012449:Safety; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity; D014821:Vitrectomy / Q000379:methods*; D014822:Vitreous Body / Q000601:surgery