Clinical Services

Vitreoretinal surgery for all Vitreoretinal diseases including 23 guage sutureless vitrectomy.

Purpose:
To directly compare the per-operative safety and efficacy of the 20- and 23-gauge vitrectomy systems as well as day 1 intraocular pressure (IOP).

Method:
Data were collected on 50 consecutive vitrectomy cases performed using the 20-gauge system and 23-gauge sutureless vitrectomy. All surgeries were carried out by one surgeon (RLB) at a single centre. Data collected prospectively included indication for surgery, iatrogenic retinal tears, and operating times.

Introduction:
Since the introduction of pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) in 1971,[1] one of the most revolutionary developments in vitreoretinal surgery over the past few years has been transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy (TSV). Fujii et al [2,3] introduced the 25-gauge TSV in 2002 and 3 years later, based on the same surgical principle, Eckardt[4] developed the 23-gauge TSV. Compared to the traditional 20-gauge vitrectomy system, the 23-gauge system allows for small incision, self-sealing, sutureless transconjunctival pars plana sclerotomies. This offers a number of potential advantages including decreased surgical trauma, less postoperative inflammation, and faster postoperative recovery time.[5] Eliminating suturing may also shorten total operating time.[6].

The Oertli 23-gauge vitrectomy system has been in use in this unit for 18 months. The purpose of this study was to directly compare the preoperative safety and efficacy of the 20- and 23-gauge systems as well as the intraocular pressure (IOP) on day 1 following surgery.