Comparative Analysis of Three-Dimensional Heads-Up Vitrectomy and Traditional Microscopic Vitrectomy for Vitreoretinal Diseases

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the visual outcomes and occurrences of perioperative complications after three-dimensional (3D) heads-up vitrectomy compared with traditional microscopic (TM) surgery for vitreoretinal diseases.Methods: A retrospective case series comparison of 3D and TM vitrectomy performed on 124 and 202 eyes with a minimum follow-up of 6 months, respectively, by the same surgeon. Changes in visual acuity, primary anatomical success, operation time, and perioperative complications were evaluated.Results: There were no significant differences in age, gender, axial length, ocular and surgical history, surgical indication, and visual acuity between the two groups at baseline. Both groups showed a significant improvement in visual acuity at the final visit (both P < .05) and experienced comparable anatomical recoveries regarding epiretinal membranes, vitreous hemorrhage, macular holes, retinal detachment, and pathological myopic foveoschisis. The mean overall operation time was not significantly longer in the 3D group (31.0 ± 17.6 min) than the TM (31.0 ± 15.9 min) group (P = .994). The incidence rates of postoperative complications during the follow-up were similar between the 3D (30.6%) and TM groups (30.2%) (P = .932).Conclusions: The 3D and TM vitrectomy surgeries yielded comparable visual and anatomical outcomes for treatment of vitreoretinal diseases without a significant difference in the rate of complications. The 3D heads-up vitrectomy may be considered the treatment of choice for patients with various vitreoretinal diseases.