Clinical factors contributing to postoperative aqueous flare intensity after 27-gauge pars plana vitrectomy for the primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the perioperative clinical factors, which contribute to the postsurgical aqueous flare intensity (AFI) following 27-gauge pars plana vitrectomy (27GPPV) for primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD).

Study design: Retrospective clinical study.

Methods: We performed retrospective analyses of the medical records of 47 eyes of 47 patients with primary RRD who had undergone 27GPPV with a wide-angle viewing system. AFI was measured preoperatively and 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months after the surgery.

Results: AFI was significantly increased 1 week after the surgery (p<0.01) and then decreased overtime. At 6 months after surgery it was still statistically significantly higher than preoperative AFI (p=0.03). There was no statistical difference between preoperative AFI and that at 12 months following surgery. Multiple regression analyses revealed that the number of retinal photocoagulations and the performance of scleral indentation had significant positive correlation with AFI at 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months, and at 1 month and 3 months after the surgery, respectively.

Conclusion: Intraoperative retinal photocoagulation and scleral indentation are probable causes of increased AFI after 27G PPV for RRD.

Keywords: 27-Gauge; Aqueous flare value; Retinal photocoagulation; Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment; Scleral indentation.