Outcome of Vitrectomy and Chorioretinectomy in Perforating Eye Injuries

PURPOSE: To evaluate the anatomical and functional results of patients who underwent pars plana vitrectomy for perforating eye injuries as well as to analyze the benefit of the chorioretinectomy procedure. METHODS: Retrospective and descriptive study of 24 eyes of 22 patients with perforating eye injuries operated on at the Centro Hospitalar do Porto between January 2006 and December 2012. RESULTS: An early vitrectomy was accomplished in 67% of the eyes and a delayed vitrectomy in 33% of the eyes. A concomitant chorioretinectomy was carried out in 78%. Final proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) was found in 11%. The anatomical success was 83%. At the final follow-up, 78% had best-corrected visual acuity equal to or superior to 5/200. Of the eyes that underwent early vitrectomy, 58% regained a visual acuity of 40/200 or better, versus 17% of the cases that underwent delayed vitrectomy. CONCLUSION: Early vitrectomy with prophylactic chorioretinectomy seems to be an effective approach to prevent PVR and improve the visual outcome and globe survival in perforating injuries.