Purpose: To review the current knowledge regarding the pathogenesis of proliferative diabetic vitreoretinopathy (PDVR) and to present recommendations for its clinical staging. Design: Focused literature review and authors’ clinical experience. Results: Although several biochemical mediators may be responsible for the pathogenesis of PDVR, no common biochemical pathway exists. Of those mediators, vascular endothelial growth factor is the one most studied so far. However, since in proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) the thickened posterior vitreous cortex is one of the main factors in the development of proliferations, a consequent shrinkage of the posterior vitreous cortex leads to hemorrhages and tractive retinal detachments. Therefore, PDR should be called PDVR. In consequence, the authors present a new morphological classification of PDVR. Conclusions: There is no consensus about the biochemical pathway responsible for the progression of PDVR. Although several classifications are described in the literature, the classification suggested here is important in the judgment of, the communication about and the therapy of diabetic retinopathy. Furthermore, it is the only reliable classification for predicting the surgical outcome in diabetics.

ABSTRACT. Vitreomacular traction resulting from lacking, incomplete or anomalous posterior vitreous detachment is suspected to play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of different forms of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) along with the known mechanisms. It is probable that the fundamental pathomechanisms of AMD formation have already begun by the time tractional forces lead to a change for the worse. Vitreomacular traction alone is perhaps not able to induce AMD. It would seem sensible to consider vitreous changes when diagnosing and treating AMD patients because of the high coincidence of vitreomacular traction and choroidal neovascularization (CNV) and the often successful treatment of other diseases of the vitreoretinal interface by vitrectomy. The concept of the pathogenesis of AMD should therefore be extended to include the influence of the vitreous, especially where therapeutic concepts such as pharmacological vitreolysis and vitreous separation have been established as causative treatment of late forms of AMD.

Purpose: The primary goal of this study was to investigate the functional results after scleral buckling (SB) surgery in macula-off rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD), with more or less than 7 days’ duration of macular detachment (DMD). The secondary outcome measure was to determine the long-term functional results in these two groups 5 years after SB surgery. Methods: The retrospective studies included 96 eyes of 96 patients with primary, uncomplicated, macula-off RRD. Two studies, one with a short-term follow-up and one with a long-term follow-up, were performed, and in both studies the eyes were divided into two groups according to the DMD. In study I, 96 patients were divided into DMD ≤7 days (n = 73) and prolonged DMD more than 7 days (n = 23) with a postoperative follow-up of at least 3 months (mean 43.5 months). In a subgroup analysis, patients were divided into acute DMD ≤3 days (n = 37) and subacute DMD ≧4 days and ≤7 days (n = 36). Study II included 47 patients with a follow-up of at least 5 years (mean 6 years). All patients were divided into(subacute) DMD ≤7 days (n = 36) and (prolonged) DMD of >7 days (n = 11). Additional preoperative predictive factors including DMD, preoperative visual acuity (VA) and patients’ age at the time of the RRD were correlated with the postoperative VA. Results: In study I, the mean final VA was significantly better (0.45) after a DMD of less than or equal to 7 days, compared to patients with a DMD of more than 7 days (0.22; Student’s t test, p = 0.02). VA ≧0.4 was achieved in 68% with a subacute DMD compared to 52% in patients with prolonged DMD (χ² test, p < 0.001). However, the postoperative VA (0.48 ± 0.09) in eyes with DMD of 1–3 days was similar (0.42 ± 0.07) to eyes with DMD of 4–7 days (Student’s t test, p = 0.455). We divided the 96 patients into 2 groups according to a preoperative VA. Eyes with a preoperative VA ≤0.1 (n = 62) had a significantly lower final VA compared to eyes with a preoperative VA >0.1 (n = 34; Student’s t test, p < 0.001). Patients 75 years of age or younger were more likely to achieve a VA of 0.4 or better after SB surgery than older patients (more than 75 years; χ² test, p = 0.008). In study II, VA improved (by a mean of 1.60 ± 0.02 lines) during the follow-up period from 0.32 ± 0.08 at the 3-month follow-up to 0.46 ± 0.10 at the 5-year follow-up. Eyes with a subacute DMD had a significantly better VA than eyes with a prolonged DMD (Student’s t test, p = 0.004). Patients aged 75 years or less were more likely to achieve a VA of 0.4 or better than patients older than 75 (χ² test, p = 0.003). Conclusion: The time point of SB surgery has no statistical impact on the final visual recovery in patients with an acute primary macular-off RRD of less than or equal to 7 days. A delay of SB surgery within this time frame does not contribute to an impaired final visual outcome. There was no evidence, that primary macula-off RRDs are emergencies, which cannot wait for a systemic evaluation of the RRD and surgical t...

Introduction: In a few types of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD), scleral buckling (SB) has a lower success, and, here, pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) is a good alternative option. This survey reviews the indications and the surgical outcome of primary PPV with internal tamponade. Patients and Methods: We reviewed 205 eyes operated by primary PPV for RRD at the Department of Ophthalmology of the Philipps University Marburg between the years 1990 and 1997. The indications of PPV were: holes greater than 90°; holes posterior to the equator; proliferative vitreoretinopathy grade C; pseudophakic status. Results: A complete reattachment of the retina after absorption of the gas or after silicone oil removal was achieved by 1 operation in 146 eyes (71.2%) and in 195 eyes (95.2%) by a second intervention. Conclusion: Although SB is the standard procedure for the treatment of RRD, complicated cases can be treated successfully with primary PPV.

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Purpose: Peeling of the internal limiting membrane (ILM) has improved the outcomes in vitreoretinal surgery of macular diseases. Indocyanine green (ICG) is used to stain and improve the visualization of the ILM. This paper aims to describe a modified approach to stain and peel the ILM avoiding potential adverse side effects. Methods: After a core vitrectomy, 0.05 ml of ICG in a concentration of 5 mg/ml is quickly injected under water around the macular region. The tip of the syringe is positioned about 5 mm from the macular tissue, in a way that about a 3-mm diameter area around the fovea is stained by the ICG. Additional ICG is immediately removed by aspiration. Peeling of the ILM is accomplished with a forceps. Results: Neither residual ICG in the vitreous cavity nor any clinical signs of phototoxicity like retinal edema were detected in any patients operated by this technique. Conclusions: This modified technique to stain the ILM limits the amount and concentration of ICG. The locally limited contact of ICG with the retinal surface seems to be a safe procedure to stain the ILM.

Vitrectomy seems to help diabetic eyes not only by removal of membranes, tractions, and vitreous hemorrhage; it seems to have a positive influence on the course of diabetic maculopathy as well. We suspect that the removal of the posterior vitreous membrane is one of the crucial factors in interrupting the disease process. From these results the indication for vitrectomy in diabetic patients may have to be reconsidered and extended to include diabetic maculopathy prior to the development of ischemia.