Journal of Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology
Open Access
ISSN: 2155-9570
ISSN: 2155-9570
Christiane I Falkner-Radler
Rudolf Foundation Hospital, Austria
Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Clin Exp Ophthalmol
Purpose: To evaluate anatomic, functional and refractive outcomes after 27-gauge vitrectomy in a prospective study. Methods: The study was designed to include patients presenting with vitreoretinal disorders (epiretinal membrane [ERM], macular holes, asteroid hyalosis and vitreomacular traction [VMT]) with or without coexisting significant cataract. Exclusion criteria were (1) patients with rhegmatogenous or tractional detachment, (2) previous vitreoretinal surgery and (3) the need for silicone oil tamponade. Surgical conditions using a scaled questionnaire, complication rates, IOP, functional and refractive outcomes were evaluated. Results: Up to now, 60 patients, 41 females and 19 males with a mean age of 72 years, have completed the 3 months follow-up. The vitreoretinal diagnosis was ERM in 36 eyes, macular holes in 9 eyes, VMT in 2 eyes, and asteroid hyalosis in 13 eyes. 47 eyes cataract surgery was combined with vitrectomy. Intraoperative conditions were graded good to excellent. However, a slightly increased time needed for core vitrectomy was noted and particularly in hyperopic and left eyes the 27 gauge instruments were graded to be more flexible. No wound leakage was found and the IOP was stable in all eyes. Complication rates included a mild postoperative vitreous hemorrhage in one patient which spontaneously resolved during follow-up. Visual acuity improved in all patients and the refractive results in the combined cases were excellent. Conclusions: These results suggest that 27 gauge vitrectomy with or without combined cataract surgery results in excellent wound architecture and offers promising functional and refractive results.
Christiane I Falkner-Radler is a full time attending Retinal Specialist and Surgeon at the Department of Ophthalmology, Rudolf Foundation Clinic, Vienna since 2008. She has conducted several clinical trials and has published several articles in peer-reviewed journals. Her areas of research interest are vitreoretinal disorders and surgical approaches, including retinal detachment surgery and macular surgery and on new advances in combined cataract and vitreoretinal surgery as well as intraoperative optical coherence tomography. She has presented free papers and posters at several international and national meetings and has been accepted as member in the Retina Society, the ASRS, the Club Jules Gonin, the Euretina, the AAO and the ARVO. In addition, she has completed the SOELeadership development program “EuLDP” 2010-2011. She has completed several Observerships with the Department of Ophthalmology at Weill Cornell Medical College, New York.
Email: christiane.falkner-radler@wienkav.at ordination@falkner-radler.at