Long-term Changes of Endothelial Cell Density after Pars Plana Vitrectomy with Fragmentation

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To evaluate the long-term changes in cornea endothelial cell density (ECD) after pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) with fragmentation. METHODS: Twenty patients (20 eyes) who underwent PPV with fragmentation and who were followed up for 2 years were enrolled in this retrospective study. The cornea ECD, coefficient of variation (CV), and hexagonality (HA) were calculated using a specular microscopy at 1, 3, 6, 12 months, and 2 years after surgery. RESULTS: The preoperative mean ECD was 1,782 ± 623 cells/mm², and the postoperative mean ECD did not significantly change at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months. Additionally, there were no significant changes in CV or HA. At 2 years after surgery, the mean ECD was 1,722 ± 532 cells/mm², the mean CV was 35.50 ± 3.03%, and the mean HA was 53.00 ± 4.91%. There were no significant changes in ECD, CV, or HA preoperatively and postoperatively at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, the mean ECD did not significantly decrease after PPV with fragmentation at 2 years after surgery. A PPV with fragmentation was an appropriate surgical procedure for patients with low cornea endothelial cell density.