[Vitrectomy and proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Apropos of 66 eyes].

PURPOSE: We report a retrospective study about vitrectomy in diabetic patients and the analysis of anatomical and functional results after surgery. METHODS: We studied 66 eyes of 52 diabetic patients who underwent pars plana vitrectomy. Vitrectomy was performed for nonclearing intravitreous hemorrhage in 75% of eyes and for tractional macular retinal detachment in 14% of eyes. RESULTS: After vitrectomy for intravitreous hemorrhage, visual acuity increased in 84% of eyes with more than 5/10 in half the cases. After vitrectomy for tractional retinal detachment, visual acuity increased or became stable in only 55% of eyes. The major complication of surgery was recurrence of intravitreous hemorrhage. A new surgery was not necessary in most cases. Neovascular glaucoma, phtysis, retinal detachment and cataract were the other complications of surgery. CONCLUSION: Visual prognosis after vitrectomy performed in complicated diabetic retinopathy depends on the final macular function. Surgery for intravitreous hemorrhage without macular detachment produced in most of cases a good visual acuity. On the other hand, vitrectomy for tractional macular retinal detachment was followed by poor visual prognosis. After recurrent intravitreous hemorrhage, a new surgical procedure is possible with good visual results in most cases, even if several procedures are necessary.