Proliferative Vitreoretinopathy - Pathogenesis and Therapy

Proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) is the most important complication of retinal detachment and vitreoretinal surgery. PVR is considered to represent a maladapted retinal wound repair process; proliferation of retinal and immune cells induces the formation of epiretinal membranes which cause tractional retinal detachment. This publication gives a brief overview on the pathogenesis and operative treatment of PVR as well as on adjunct pharmacological therapy which may target the components of the proliferative process. At the moment surgical approaches are the first choice for the treatment of PVR. Scleral buckling provides good anatomic results in the treatment of a PVR stage B or C1/C2. From stage C3 onwards vitrectomy offers advantage.