Vitrectomy for Complicated Eales Disease

Purpose: We determined the efficacy of pars plana vitrectomy in a series of patients with complicated Eales disease.Methods: Clinical records were reviewed on 47 consecutive patients (49 eyes) who underwent vitrectomy for persistent vitreous hemorrhage (PVH) and/or traction retinal detachment (TRD) with neovascular membranes (NVM). All cases were divided into 4 subgroups of eyes with PVH (without obvious NVM, n = 9), NVD (NVM from the optic disc, n = 10), NVP (peripheral NVM, n = 11), or ENV (extensive NVM and logn-standing TRD,n- 17).Results: The study included 8 women and 39 men with a mean age of 27. 3 years (range, 16 to 50 years). The visual acuity was light perception in 15 eyes, hand motions in 18 eyes, counting fingers in 6 eyes and 0. 02 to 0. 1 in 10 eyes before vitrectomy. Visual acuity improved postoperatively in all eyes with PVH, NVD of NVP with a mean visual acuity of 0. 32 (range,0. 05 to 1. 0,n = 28) except 3 eyes unchanged There was no significant difference ( P > 0. 05 ) in the

Purpose: We determined the efficacy of pars plana vitrectomy in a series of patients with complicated Eales disease. Methods: Clinical records were reviewed on 47 consecutive patients (49 eyes) who underwent vitrectomy for persistent vitreous hemorrhage (PVH) and/or traction retinal detachment (TRD) with neovascular membranes (NVM). All cases were divided into 4 subgroups of eyes with PVH (without obvious NVM, n = 9), NVD (NVM from the optic disc, n = 10), NVP (peripheral NVM, n = 11), or ENV (extensive NVM and logn-standing TRD,n- 17). Results: The study included 8 women and 39 men with a mean age of 27. 3 years (range, 16 to 50 years). The visual acuity was light perception in 15 eyes, hand motions in 18 eyes, counting fingers in 6 eyes and 0. 02 to 0. 1 in 10 eyes before vitrectomy. Visual acuity improved postoperatively in all eyes with PVH, NVD of NVP with a mean visual acuity of 0. 32 (range,0. 05 to 1. 0,n = 28) except 3 eyes unchanged There was no significant difference ( P > 0. 05 ) in the patient age, preoperative visual acuity, or visual improvement after vitrectomy among these 3 subgroups. In the eyes with ENV, however, postoperative visual improvement was obtained but limited in 9 eyes (range,0.02 to 0.15). Visual acuity was unchanged in 9 eyes. There was a significant difference (P<0. 01) in postoperative visual acuity between the eyes with ENV and the eyes with PVH,NVD or NVP. Conclusions: Vitrectomy with removal of persistent vitreous hemorrhage and focal neovascular membranes and endolaser photocoagulation may lead to improved visual acuity in the majority of eyes with Eales disease. However, extensive fibrovascular membranes and long-standing retinal detachment result in poor visual outcome. Earlier surgery can be considered to prevent visual loss in the patients. Eye Science 1997; 13:25-28.