Pars plana vitrectomy. Treatment for tractional macula detachment secondary to proliferative diabetic retinopathy

S. A. Miller, J. B. Butler, F. L. Myers and G. H. Bresnick

Pars plana vitrectomies were performed on 43 eyes with traction macular detachment secondary to proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Anatomic success, as judged by reattachment of the macula, occurred 28 (65%) eyes. Improved visual acuity occurred in 11 (26%) eyes. Severe complications occurring after vitrectomy included moderate to severe rubeosis iridis diabetica (28%), neovascular glaucoma (16%), vitreous hemorrhage (49%), and phthisis bulbi (14%). Eyes that received scatter photocagulation therapy at some time prior to macular detachment had a substantially lower incidence of successful postoperative reattachment of the macula than eyes never treated with photocoagulation.