When Should a Patient With Diabetic Retinopathy Be Considered for a Vitrectomy?

Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness in working-aged persons in the United States. 1 Diabetic vitrectomy is reserved for eyes with complications of diabetic retinopathy not amenable to intravitreal injection or laser. Even among compliant patients with frequent ophthalmic exams and timely scatter panretinal laser photocoagulation, vitrectomy still becomes necessary in at least 5% of patients. ² The surgical goal of a diabetic vitrectomy is to clear the vitreous of opacities, release and remove tractional elements from the retinal surface, promote attachment or reattach any detached retina, and complete panretinal photocoagulation with or without the addition of intravitreal pharmacological agents.