title: Primary 23-gauge transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the results of primary 23-gauge transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD).
  
  
  METHODS
  In a prospective case series, 24 eyes of 24 consecutive patients with RRD underwent primary 23-gauge transconjunctival pars plana vitrectomy with intraocular gas tamponade. Postoperative follow-up ranged from 6 months to 16 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifteen eyes (62.5%) had multiple breaks. Seven eyes (29.2%) had inferior breaks. Other complications included giant tear in one eye, peripheral choroidal detachment in one eye, and concomitant macular holes in two eyes. The primary anatomical success rate was 91.7%. The mean postoperative visual acuity at postoperative month 3 improved from 20/41 to 20/25 (P = 0.111) and from 20/735 to 20/56 (P < 0.0001) in macula-on and macula-off cases, respectively. One patient (4.2%) had hypotony on postoperative day 1. No patients developed choroidal detachments. No sutures were used in any of the sclerotomy sites. Of the patients, 87.5% reported no or mild foreign body sensation, whereas 79.1% reported no or mild pain on the first postoperative day.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Twenty-three-gauge transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy appears to be a feasible option in treating RRD in selected cases, with the potential benefit of reducing postoperative ocular irritation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Eye Hospital, Hong Kong. tsang_cw127@yahoo.com.hk
authors.forename: Chi-Wai
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Tsang
authors.forename: Benson Tze-On
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.forename: Robert Fung
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.forename: Gary Ka-Yau
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Can Yin-Fun
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Yuen
authors.forename: Timothy Yuk-Yau
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: Dennis Shun-Chiu
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Lam
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015862:Choroid Diseases / Q000150:complications; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000601:surgery*; D005129:Eye Foreign Bodies / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015814:Ocular Hypotension / Q000209:etiology; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000209:etiology; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012163:Retinal Detachment / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D012167:Retinal Perforations / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D012677:Sensation; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity; D014821:Vitrectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*