Outcomes of transconjunctival sutureless 27-gauge micro‑incision vitrectomy surgery in diabetic vitreous haemorrhage

Objective: To evaluate the visual outcomes of 27-gauge transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy surgery and its complications in patients with diabetic vitreous hemorrhage.

Methods: A quasi-experimental study was conducted where eighty seven eyes of 87 uncontrolled type II diabetes mellitus patients presenting with diabetic vitreous hemorrhage were selected to undergo 27-gauge transconjunctival sutureless micro-incision vitrectomy surgery. Main outcome measured was best corrected visual acuity (BCVA). Post-operative complications were also screened for at each visit. The follow ups were at post-operative day one, one month, three months and six months respectively.

Results: Out of 87 patients, 52 (59.8%) were males and 35 (40.2%) were females. The mean age of the patients was 52.32 ± 6.78 years (95% CI: 53.13 - 55.57). For most of the patients, the BCVA improved progressively with each subsequent follow up visit. Pre-operative BCVA was 1.01 ± 0.206 logMar, compared to BCVA at final follow up of 0.44 ± 0.231 (p-value < 0.001). Six (6.9%) patients developed recurrent vitreous hemorrhage during the study period, four (4.6%) developed cataract, one (1.1%) had increased intraocular pressure and sub conjunctival hemorrhage was present in two (2.3%).

Conclusion: 27-gauge micro-incision vitrectomy surgery is an effective sutureless surgery with favorable outcomes, in terms of vision, in patients with diabetic vitreous hemorrhage. The associated complications are few which can be easily managed.