Vitrectomy for Vitreous Hemorrhage Associated with Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion

ABSTRACT

Fifty-two eyes with vitreous hemorrhages caused by branch retinal vein occulusion underwent pars plana vitrectomy. The vIsion was improved postoperatively in 50 of 52 eyes(96.2%) and no change or worsened in 2 eyes. Regarding postoperative visual acuity 73% showed 0.1 or better, and 0.5 or better in 25%. The lens opacity, the most common surgical complication occured in 14 of 43 phakic eyes, and the incidence of later lens opacification increased as the follow-up lengthened. Other surgical complications were retinal tear in 2 eyes, recurrent vitreous hemorrhage in 3 eyes and secondary glaucoma in 2 eyes. Thirty-two eyes revealed postoperative visual acuity less than 0.3, in which 20 eyes showed maculopathy as the cause of poor visual outcome, and surgical complications in 16 eyes. The level of vision depends lagely upon the macular function.