Characteristics and Outcomes of Pars Plana Vitrectomy for Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy Patients in a Limited Resource Tertiary Center over an Eight-Year Period

Purpose. To report characteristics and visual results in patients with PDR-associated complications following pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) in a tertiary center over an eight-year period. Methods. Medical records of diabetic retinopathy patients receiving PPV between January 2007 and December 2014 for PDR-related complications were reviewed. Results. A total of 890 consecutive PDR patients were included in the study. PPVs were performed for tractional retinal detachment (36.6%), persistent vitreous hemorrhage (VH) (35.4%), combined tractional and rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (14.5%), and vitreoretinal abnormalities (13.5%), respectively. Preoperative intravitreal bevacizumab injection (IVB) within two weeks prior to PPV and 23G vitrectomy systems was found to decrease the risk for intraoperative retinal break development (P=0.045 and P=0.015, respectively). The incidence of early dense postoperative VH decreased significantly with the administration of preoperative or intraoperative IVB at the end of PPV. Postoperative visual results significantly correlated with the initial visual acuity level, intraoperative retinal break development, and retained silicone oil tamponade at the final visit (P