ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To determine the incidence of and the systemic risk factors for postoperative vitreous hemor-rhage(PVH). METHOD: The records of 503 consecutive diabetic vitrectomy cases were reviewed. RESULT: Eighty-seven eyes(17.3%) had at least one episode of PVH. Sixty-five eyes(12.9%) had PVH within 3 months after vitrectomy, and the mean onset time of the first episode of PVH was about 13 weeks after vitrectomy. The mean follow-up period was 17.2 months in non-hemorrhage group, and 21.9 months in hemorrhage group. While 34 eyes(29.6%) had spontaneous absorption of blood, 42 eyes(36.5%) required air(or gas)-fluid exchange and 39 eyes(33.9%) vitreous cavity lavage. Using univariate analysis, the factors associated with increased incidence of PVH include type 1 diabetes mellitus(p=0.01), method of glycemia control(p=0.02), anemia(p=0.04), and hypercholesterolemia(p=0.005). Multivariate analysis revealed diabetic nephropathy(p=0.02) and hypercholesterolemia(p=0.01) were the risk factors. Five eyes(1.0%) lost light perception, 7 eyes(1.4%) had rhegmatogenous retinal detachment, and 11 eyes(2.2%) had neovascular glaucoma. CONCLUSION: Vitreous hemorrhage after diabetic vitrectomy occurred in the 17.3%, three quarters of them within 3 months. About one third had spontaneous clearing, and two-thirds required reoperation. Diabetic nephropathy and hypercholesterolemia were the systemic risk factors of vitreous hemorrhage after diabetic vitrectomy.