The Clinical Results of Sutureless Vitrectomy Using 23-Gauge Surgical System

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the clinical results of 23-gauge sutureless vitrectomy. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 111 eyes that had undergone 23-gauge sutureless vitrectomy. The eyes underwent surgery from February 2006 to July 2006 and were examined for surgical outcome as well as intraoperative and postoperative complications. RESULTS: The preoperative best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 1.43+/-0.12 and increased to 0.88+/-0.11 (P>0.01). Thirteen (11.7%) of 111 eyes developed intraoperative complications, and 21 (18.9%) of 111 eyes developed postoperative complications. Intraoperative complications included wound.leaking (seven eyes), conjunctival suture (three eyes), and difficult insertion (two eyes). Postoperative complications included postoperative hypotony (seven eyes), vitreous hemorrhage (seven eyes), hyphema (five eyes), and infectious endophthalmitis (two eyes). CONCLUSIONS: Unlike 20-gauge vitrectomy, sutureless 23-gauge vitrectomy offers all the advantages of minimally invasive sutureless vitrectomy.