Comparison of one-year outcomes between 23- and 20-gauge vitrectomy for preretinal membrane.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the outcomes of transconjunctival sutureless 23-gauge vitrectomy and conventional 20-gauge vitrectomy 1 year after removal of preretinal membrane.


METHODS
Retrospective, consecutive, comparative case series.


METHODS
One hundred consecutive eyes with a preretinal membrane underwent either 23- and 20-gauge vitrectomy. The rate of improvement of the logarithm minimum angle of resolution visual acuity (VA) was calculated by the formula: (various postoperative values-preoperative values) x 100/ (1 year postoperative values-preoperative values).


RESULTS
No significant differences were found between the groups in the preoperative and postoperative VAs. The VA improvement was higher and the surgically induced corneal astigmatism was lower 1 week postoperatively in the 23-gauge group compared with the 20-gauge group (P = .006 and P = .001, respectively). The flare values in the anterior chamber measured by laser flare meter preoperatively and 1 week postoperatively did not differ between the groups. The surgical time was significantly (P = .023) shorter in the 23-gauge group than in the 20-gauge group. No apparent complications developed in either group.


CONCLUSIONS
Transconjunctival sutureless 23-gauge vitrectomy appears effective for preretinal membrane surgery with an acceptable safety profile. Transconjunctival sutureless 23-gauge vitrectomy may be a treatment option for preretinal membranes.
Hikichi
Taiichi
T
Ohtsuka Eye Hospital, Sapporo, Japan. taiichi-hikichi@hokkaido.med.or.jp
Matsumoto
Naomi
N
Ohtsuka
Hideo
H
Higuchi
Makoto
M
Matsushita
Takuro
T
Ariga
Hiroko
H
Kosaka
Shyoko
S
Matsushita
Reiko
R
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019773:Epiretinal Membrane / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019654:Lens Implantation, Intraocular; D008297:Male; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D018918:Phacoemulsification; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology; D014821:Vitrectomy / Q000379:methods*