Long-Term Safety and Efficacy of Pars Plana Vitrectomy for Uveitis: Experience of a Tertiary Referral Centre in the United Kingdom

J Clin Med. 2023 May 2;12(9):3252. doi: 10.3390/jcm12093252.

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) without macular intervention on uveitis eyes with persistent vitreous inflammation/opacities in terms of visual acuity (VA), intraocular inflammation and macular profile.

Methods: We carried out a single-center retrospective study of patients with uveitic eyes that underwent PPV without intervention on the macula due to persistent vitreous inflammation/opacities. The primary outcome measures were best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular inflammation and macular profile at 3, 12 and 24 months after surgery.

Results: Twenty-seven eyes of twenty-six patients were analyzed. Overall, 77.8% had an improvement of VA (55% by 0.3 LogMAR or more); 62.5% of patients had no intraocular inflammation, and the number of patients on systemic steroids and second-line immunosuppressives was reduced by 26% at 12 months; 87.5% of patients had resolution of macular oedema at 12 months.

Conclusion: PPV for persistent vitreous inflammation/opacities is safe and effective, showing beneficial outcomes in terms of improvement of BCVA and the reduction in inflammation.

Keywords: intraocular inflammation; pars plana vitrectomy; uveitis; visual acuity; vitreous debris; vitreous opacities.

Grants and funding

This research received no external funding.