RESUMEN
PURPOSE: To establish the incidence, evolution and final visual outcome of corneal epithelial complications after vitrectomy in a consecutive series performed throughout a period of one year. METHODS: 195 consecutive medical records of patients vitrectomized in 2001 have been retrospectively reviewed. Patients were clinically evaluated the day after vitrectomy, during the first week, and then weekly for 3 months (minimum follow-up). Functional results have been established at the end of this period. RESULTS: 12 out of 195 eyes developed corneal epithelial complications after surgery (6.1%). Eight cases were diagnosed of persistent epithelial defect (4.1%), and four cases (2%) of necrotizing herpetic keratitis. Six out of 12 were diabetic. Corneal epithelial complications affected 10.5% of diabetic and 4.3% of non-diabetic patients (p=0.10). The majority of persistent epithelial defects healed without sequelae in less than two months. Herpetic keratitis required between 3 to 4 months to heal and caused corneal scarring in all cases. CONCLUSIONS: Persistent corneal epithelial defects after vitrectomy are a relatively frequent complication, mainly in diabetic patients. Recurrence of herpetic keratitis must also be kept in mind. This finding has not been previously reported and needs further studies.