Complications of proliferative diabetic retinopathy have become the major indications of vitrectomy. The surgery, however, is not basically a causative therapy. The visual function after operation depends on the degree of retinal ischemia and damage induced. The surgery itself has a potential for severe complications. Therefore it is important to better understand the pathology and to master surgical strategy and techniques in order to improve surgical outcomes and reduce the surgical complications. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis,2007,23:234-237)
There are many topics in clinical studies of diabetic retinopathy (DR). The current hot topics include the relationship between DR and systemic diseases, major factors for initiation and progression of DR, early DR screening strategies, DR prevention strategies and how to improve the therapeutic effects of DR. However, due to the complexity of DR pathogenesis, multiple risk factors, long cycle of DR prevention and control, it is difficult to exclude all the confounding factors in the DR clinical research. From the long-term perspective, delaying the occurrence and progression of DR and establishing an efficient and practical prevention and control system is the focus of the future DR research in China.
Refractory macular hole (MH) has lower surgical anatomical closure rate and poor recovery of visual acuity due to its clinical characteristics. Refractory macular hole includes unclosed MH, reopening MH, large MH, high myopic MH, traumatic MH and secondary MH. Some modified surgeries were employed to improve the surgical results. Inverted internal limiting membrane flap, autologous transplantation of the internal limiting membrane, laser photocoagulation, extended internal limiting membrane peeling, arcuate retinotomy, lens capsular flap transplantation and mesenchymal stem cell transplantation can improve the prognosis partially. Loosening MH traction, providing a scaffold for Müller cell proliferation and promoting photoreceptor reconstruction will be the key points in future.
Familial exudative vitreoretinopathy (FEVR) is a hereditary retinal vascular dysplasia. So far, 6 genes have been found to be associated with FEVR: Wnt receptor Frizzled Protein 4, Norrie's disease, co-receptor low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 5, tetraspanin 12, zinc finger protein 408, and kinesin family members 11 genes. Its clinical manifestations, pathological processes and genetic patterns are diverse, and it shows the relationship between gene polymorphism and clinical manifestation diversity. It is characterized by different symptoms between the same individual, the same family, and the same gene mutation; different clinical stages and gene mutation types of parents or unilateral genetic children; different clinical characteristics and gene mutation patterns of full-term and premature infant; combined with other eye disease and systemic diseases; double gene mutations and single gene mutations have different clinical manifestations and gene mutation characteristics. A comprehensive understanding of the different clinical manifestations and diverse genetics of FEVR can provide better guidance for the treatment of FEVR.
With the continuous advancement of technology, the field of retinal surgery is poised to witness an increasing array of innovations and breakthroughs. The innovation in retinal surgery plays a pivotal role in enhancing the success rate of operations, reducing the risk of complications, and improving patient prognosis and quality of life. This encompasses innovations in vitrectomy systems, the novel application of vitrectomy in treating other ocular diseases, advancements in retinal surgical techniques, technological and conceptual innovations, as well as multidisciplinary collaboration, all of which contribute to the ongoing development in the treatment of retinal diseases. Therefore, innovations in retinal surgery should receive significant attention from ophthalmologists specializing in retinal diseases with the best service to patients.
Objective To observe the related complications of 23G pars plana vitrectomy (PPV). Methods One hundred and fifteen patients who underwent 23G PPV were enrolled in this study. There were 98 patients (65.3%) with macular diseases, 46 patients (30.7%) with proliferative diabetic retinopathy, four patients (2.7%) with vitreous hemorrhage, one patient (0.7%) with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment, and lens nucleus falling off in cataract surgery in one patient (0.7%). Among 98 patients with macular diseases, 21 patients (21.4%) underwent topical anesthesia, 77 patients (78.6%) underwent retrobulbar anesthesia. DORC "twostep method" was performed in three patients, and Alcon 23G PPV "onestep method" was performed in 147 patients. The operation times ranged from 20 to 100 minutes, with a mean of (51.1±18.9) minutes. The follow-up ranged from three to 12 months. The intraoperative and postoperative complications were observed. Results Intraoperative complications was found in seven patients (4.7%), which included iatrogenic retinal breaks in one patient (0.7%), macular damage in one patient (0.7%), suprachoroidal perfusion in one patient (0.7%), puncture leakage and closure incision in two patients (1.3%), vitreous hemorrhage in one patient (0.7%) and stopper broken off in cannula in one patient (0.7%). Postoperative complications was found in 34 patients (22.7%), which including retinal detachment in one patient (0.7%), vitreous hemorrhage in three patients (2.0%), cataract in three patient (2.0%), intraocular pressure ＜10 mm Hg（1 mm Hg=0.133 kPa） in 20 patient (13.3%), and transient ocular hypertension in seven patients (4.7%). After treatment there was no complication associated with surgery. Conclusion Intraoperative complications related to incision and transient hypotony are mainly complications of 23G PPV.