SURGICAL OUTCOMES OF 27-GAUGE VITRECTOMY FOR A CONSECUTIVE SERIES OF 163 EYES WITH VARIOUS VITREOUS DISEASES

Purpose: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of 27-gauge vitrectomy for various vitreoretinal disorders. Methods: In this retrospective comparative study, 163 consecutive eyes with various diseases that underwent 27-gauge pars plana vitrectomy with or without ultraspeed transformer by a single surgeon from June 2012 through December 2014 were analyzed in regard to best-corrected visual acuity, intraocular pressure, intraoperative and postoperative complications, and surgery time. Results: In 2 eyes (1.2%), peripheral retina breaks were encountered intraoperatively, yet no other complications were found in those eyes. No cases required larger-gauge vitrectomy. Mean best-corrected visual acuity improved from 20/58 (logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution, 0.46 +/- 0.64) preoperatively to 20/32 (logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution, 0.20 +/- 0.40) postoperatively (P < 0.001). Mean follow-up was 16.7 months (range, 6-33 months). Intraocular pressure remained stable throughout the postoperative course. Hypotony was seen in 15 eyes (9.2%) at 1-day postoperative, yet that spontaneously improved within 1 week. No case of retinal detachment or endophthalmitis was recorded. In macular surgeries, such as idiopathic epiretinal membrane and macular hole combined with cataract surgery, the mean surgery time was 32.1 +/- 6.9 minutes with ultraspeed transformer (n = 38) and 37.1 +/- 7.7 minutes without ultraspeed transformer (n = 40) (P = 0.004). Conclusion: The 27-gauge pars plana vitrectomy was found to be safe and effective for treating various vitreoretinal disorders.