Vitrectomy for Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy in those under 40 Years of Age

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: We compared the surgical outcomes of vitrectomy for proliferative diabetic retinopathy between younger and older groups. METHODS: We reviewed the data of 185 patients (227 eyes) who had undergone vitrectomy and endolaser photocoagulation and who were followed up for at least 6 months. We divided them into two age-based groups less than 40 years of age (52 eyes), and more than 40 years of age (175 eyes). We compared preoperative status, surgical outcomes, and postoperative complications. RESULTS: Postoperative visual acuity improved in 75.0% in the younger group, and 68.6% in the older group, and the difference was not statistically significant. The proportion of eyes with good visual acuity of 0.6 or better was statistically significantly (Ed-confirm this addition) higher in the younger group (30.8%) than in the older group (17.1%). The proportion of eyes with postoperative visual acuity of no light perception was statistically significantly higher in the younger group. The visual acuity in the patients who lacked photocoagulation was poorer in the younger group. Postoperative recurrent vitreous hemorrhage, corneal epithelial defect, and additional operation rate was more prevalent in the younger group. CONCLUSIONS: We found no significant difference in the overall postoperative results between younger and older patients. Early panretinal photocoagulation and vitrectomy can be helpful to maintain visual function of young patients. Special care is needed to prevent postoperative complications.