Safety, efficacy, and quality of life following sutureless vitrectomy for symptomatic vitreous floaters

Abstract

Purpose: To determine the safety, efficacy, and quality of life improvement following sutureless 25-gauge pars plana vitrectomy for symptomatic floaters.

Methods: Patients with symptomatic vitreous floaters who underwent sutureless vitrectomy between January 2008 and January 2011 were included. Data were collected regarding baseline preoperative characteristics, postoperative outcomes, complications, and a nine-item quality-of-life survey completed by each patient.

Results: One hundred and sixty-eight eyes (143 patients) underwent sutureless 25-gauge pars plana vitrectomy for symptomatic vitreous floaters. Mean Snellen visual acuity was 20/40 preoperatively and improved to 20/25 postoperatively (P < 0.0001). Iatrogenic retinal breaks occurred in 12 of 168 eyes (7.1%). Intraoperative posterior vitreous detachment induction was not found to increase the risk of retinal breaks (P = 1.000). Postoperative complications occurred in three eyes, of which one had transient cystoid macular edema and two had transient vitreous hemorrhage. Approximately 88.8% of patients completed a quality-of-life survey, which revealed that 96% were "satisfied" with the results of the operation, and 94% rated the experience as a "complete success."

Conclusion: Sutureless 25-gauge pars plana vitrectomy for symptomatic vitreous floaters improved visual acuity, resulted in a high patient satisfaction quality-of-life survey, and had a low rate of postoperative complications. Sutureless pars plana vitrectomy should be considered as a viable means of managing patients with symptomatic vitreous floaters.