Iatrogenic retinal breaks in 20-G versus 23-G pars plana vitrectomy.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to compare the incidence of iatrogenic anterior retinal breaks in 20-G vitrectomy (PPV) with transconjunctival 23-G PPV. METHODS: Retrospective, observational review study involving consecutive patients undergoing PPV in a single center in the UK during a 2-year period. RESULTS: Sclerotomy-related entry-site breaks (ESB) were found in 50/628 (7.9 %) 20-G PPV cases and 5/296 (1.7 %) 23-G PPV eyes (p<0.0001*). Anterior non-sclerotomy iatrogenic breaks (ANSB) were present in 55/628 (8.7 %) 20-G PPV cases and 18/296 (6.1 %) 23-G PPV eyes (p=0.19). The incidence of total anterior iatrogenic breaks (ANSB + ESB) was 105/628 (16.7 %) for 20-G PPV and 23/296 (7.8 %) for 23-G PPV (p=0.002*). Univariate analysis showed that posterior vitreous detachment induction was the only risk factor significantly associated with the development of anterior retinal breaks for both 20-G and 23-G PPV. Multivariate logistic model of risk factors for development of iatrogenic retinal breaks demonstrated that 23-G PPV was the most important factor reducing the risk of anterior breaks (p<0.0001*). CONCLUSIONS: We report the largest series of patients undergoing 20-G and 23-G vitrectomy, where 23-G vitrectomy was associated with a significantly lower incidence of anterior iatrogenic retinal breaks.

Changes in intraocular pressure following a switch from latanoprost monotherapy to latanoprost/timolol fixed combination therapy in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension: results from a clinical practice database.

AIMS: To assess the incremental change in intraocular pressure (IOP) levels in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension, insufficiently treated with topical ocular hypotensive monotherapy or combination therapy and changed to the latanoprost/timolol fixed-combination therapy (LTFC). METHODS: The glaucoma database of the Glasgow Royal Infirmary was reviewed retrospectively to identify patients > or = 18 years of age with primary open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension in at least one eye who had been switched to LTFC from a previous monotherapy or combination therapy. Ninety patients were identified, and 59 (66%) had changed to LTFC from latanoprost monotherapy (LM). The analysis focused on this subgroup because few patients were changed from any other single therapy. At least one documented patient visit following the change to LTFC was required. The within-subject difference in IOP levels (IOP on LM-IOP on LTFC) was calculated for each case, and the statistical significance of the mean change in IOP was analysed using a 2-sided Student's paired t-test with a 0.05 alpha level. RESULTS: The mean decrease in IOP after changing to LTFC from LM was 2.6 mmHg (95% confidence interval = 1.6, 3.6), from 21.4 (SD = 3.5) mmHg to 18.8 (SD = 4.2) mmHg (p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: LTFC provides significant incremental IOP reduction in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension who require additional IOP reduction following treatment with LM.