Safety, efficacy, and quality of life following sutureless vitrectomy for symptomatic vitreous floaters

• Published in: Retina (Philadelphia, Pa.) Vol. 34; no. 6; pp. 1055 - 1061
• Main Authors: Mason, 3rd, John O, Neimkin, Michael G, Mason, 4th, John O, Friedman, Duncan A, Feist, Richard M, Thomley, Martin L, Albert, Michael A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01-06-2014
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Eye Diseases - surgery; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Patient Satisfaction; Postoperative Complications; Quality of Life; Suture Techniques; Visual Acuity; Vitrectomy - adverse effects; Vitrectomy - methods
• ISSN: 0275-004X; 1539-2864
• DOI: 10.1097/IAE.0000000000000063

To determine the safety, efficacy, and quality of life improvement following sutureless 25-gauge pars plana vitrectomy for symptomatic floaters.
Patients with symptomatic vitreous floaters who underwent sutureless vitrectomy between January 2008 and January 2011 were included. Data were collected regarding baseline preoperative characteristics, postoperative outcomes, complications, and a nine-item quality-of-life survey completed by each patient.
One hundred and sixty-eight eyes (143 patients) underwent sutureless 25-gauge pars plana vitrectomy for symptomatic vitreous floaters. Mean Snellen visual acuity was 20/40 preoperatively and improved to 20/25 postoperatively (P < 0.0001). Iatrogenic retinal breaks occurred in 12 of 168 eyes (7.1%). Intraoperative posterior vitreous detachment induction was not found to increase the risk of retinal breaks (P = 1.000). Postoperative complications occurred in three eyes, of which one had transient cystoid macular edema and two had transient vitreous hemorrhage. Approximately 88.8% of patients completed a quality-of-life survey, which revealed that 96% were "satisfied" with the results of the operation, and 94% rated the experience as a "complete success."
Sutureless 25-gauge pars plana vitrectomy for symptomatic vitreous floaters improved visual acuity, resulted in a high patient satisfaction quality-of-life survey, and had a low rate of postoperative complications. Sutureless pars plana vitrectomy should be considered as a viable means of managing patients with symptomatic vitreous floaters.