Vitreous hemorrhage after the 25-gauge transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy for proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

Objective: To address the incidence, clinical course, and risk factors for postoperative vitreous hemorrhage (PVH) after a 25-gauge transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy for proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

Methods: A consecutive series of eyes underwent 25-gauge transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomies for proliferative diabetic retinopathy. The best-corrected visual acuities and intraocular pressures were measured, and the complications were prospectively evaluated 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months postoperatively, then as needed.

Results: The mean postoperative follow-up was 11.0 ± 6.3 months (range, 6-28 months). Of 93 eyes, 42 had PVH on Day 1 (immediate PVH) but the presence and degree of PVH did not affect visual recovery and only 4 eyes did not clear for 1 month (persistent PVH). Recurrent PVH occurred in 11 eyes. Eight eyes had hypotony on Day 1, and patients who experienced postoperative hypotony had an 11.20-fold increased risk of immediate PVH > Grade 2. In the cases that needed intravitreal tamponade, the risk of recurrent PVH was 3.03-fold higher.

Conclusions: After 25-gauge transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomies for proliferative diabetic retinopathy, postoperative hypotony and the need for tamponade increased the rates of immediate and recurrent PVH, respectively. Immediate PVH occurred in 45.2% of the patients but did not affect early visual recovery. A 25-gauge transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy resulted in a favorable incidence of recurrent PVH (11.8%) during the first 6 months.