Purpose: To report outcome of pars plana vitrectomy in patients with chronic hypotony due to uveitis.
Methods: Assessment of ciliary body was done preoperatively by ultrasound biomicroscopy and intraoperatively by direct visualization. Surgical procedure included pars plana or limbal lensectomy and vitrectomy with removal of ciliary membranes and traction. Silicone oil tamponade was used in selected eyes. Postoperatively subtenon triamcinolone acetonide was given if intraocular pressure (IOP) remained low.
Results: Fifteen eyes of nine patients, all woman at mean age of 15.66 ± 12.57 (4-40) years, were included. In 7 eyes with intact ciliary processes, mean pre- and postoperative IOP was 4.00 ± 1.6 mmHg and 9.1 ± 4.1 mmHg, respectively. In 4 eyes with ciliary atrophy that did not receive silicone oil tamponade, mean pre- and postoperative IOP was 4.25 ± 1.7 and 3.75 ± 0.9 mmHg, respectively. In 4 eyes with ciliary atrophy that received silicone oil tamponade mean pre- and postoperative IOP was 3.75 ± 1.7 and 11.5 ± 2.3 mmHg, respectively. Mean follow-up was 19.9 ± 14.9 (8-56) months. Postoperative mean logMAR visual acuity improved significantly (P < 0.001) from 2.29 ± 0.67 to 1.01 ± 0.89.
Conclusion: In eyes with normal ciliary processes, removal of ciliary membranes alone was sufficient to restore IOP. However, if ciliary atrophy was present, IOP was restored only in those eyes that received silicone oil tamponade.