Outcome of vitrectomy in patients with Terson syndrome

PURPOSE: To report findings and evaluate the results of vitrectomy in 22 eyes with Terson syndrome. METHODS: We reviewed retrospectively the records of patients who underwent pars plana vitrectomy as a result of vitreous haemorrhage. Twelve cases concerned unilateral vitrectomy and five concerned bilateral vitrectomy. The time interval between intracranial haemorrhage and vitrectomy was 1-10 months (mean 5.9 months). RESULTS: During a mean follow-up of 23.3 months (range 1-69 months) visual acuity (VA) improved in 21 of 22 eyes. Preoperative VA was < or = 0.1 in 20 of 22 eyes, while postoperative VA was > or = 0.5 in 16 of 21 eyes. Poor visual outcomes were mainly caused by retinal detachments (seven eyes, in which three were caused by proliferative vitreoretinopathy), epiretinal membranes (seven eyes) and optic atrophy (one eye). Our study concurs with recent reports suggesting early vitrectomy in bilateral cases and in cases where ultrasonography shows epiretinal membrane or proliferative retinopathy formation.