Outcomes following 25-gauge vitrectomies.
OBJECTIVE
Twenty-five gauge vitrectomy surgery offers potential advantages over standard 20-gauge vitrectomy surgery, but the short- and long-term post-operative complications, such as cataract formation, are still being evaluated. This study quantifies the outcomes seen following 25-gauge vitrectomies.


METHODS
This is a retrospective, consecutive, non-comparative case series of 25-gauge vitrectomies performed between January 2002 and August 2004. Cases without at least 3 months of follow-up and previous vitrectomies were excluded. Analyses were performed with t-test and Kaplan-Meier curves.


RESULTS
Seventy-one cases met inclusion criteria. The mean age of the patients was 65 years old (SD 11 years). A variety of surgical indications were included. A statistically significant difference was seen between the mean preoperative visual acuity (20/100) and the mean visual acuity at the 3-month post-operative visit (20/60; P<0.0001). A Kaplan-Meier curve established that for all cases 63.4% of eyes required cataract extraction at 1 year. Total mean follow-up time was 8.6+/-5.5 months.


CONCLUSIONS
Statistically significant improvement was seen in mean vision by 3 months following 25-gauge vitrectomy. Cataract formation after 25-gauge vitrectomies remains an important consideration.
Faia
L J
LJ
Department of Ophthalmology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
McCannel
C A
CA
Pulido
J S
JS
Hatfield
R M
RM
Hatfield
M E
ME
McNulty
V E W
VE
D000368:Aged; D002386:Cataract / Q000209:etiology; D002387:Cataract Extraction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity; D014821:Vitrectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*