Outcomes Following Pars Plana Vitrectomy for Severe Ocular Trauma

To investigate outcomes and presenting characteristics for subjects undergoing pars plana vitrectomy for ocular trauma.

Retrospective study of 113 patients who underwent pars plana vitrectomy for severe ocular trauma at [name deleted to maintain the integrity of the review process] between 1999 and 2018. Data were collected on age, gender, initial and final visual acuity (LogMAR), mode of injury, type of injury, number of surgeries performed, follow-up duration, type of tamponade, presence of phthisis, and retinal detachment. The Birmingham Eye Trauma Terminology System (BETTS) was employed.

We identified assault and contusion injuries to be the most common mode and type of ocular injury in our cohort. Furthermore, through follow-up we noted a varied number of operations required by patients presenting with ocular trauma and a statistically significant improvement in visual acuity from 1.73 (±0.86) LogMAR to 1.17 (±1.03; p <0.01) LogMAR. A statistically significant difference in final visual acuity was also noted between BETTS classified type of injury groups (p < 0.01). Notably, only 7.3% and 8.2% of patients developed phthisis or a persisting retinal detachment, respectively, during follow-up.

Our study demonstrates that ocular trauma requiring pars plana vitrectomy can require a varied number of operations with a guarded visual prognosis. However, a small percentage will proceed to develop phthisis following intervention.