Characteristics of cases with postoperative vitreous hemorrhage after 25-gauge vitrectomy for repair of proliferative diabetic retinopathy

The purpose of this study was to compare ocular and systemic parameters between proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) cases with postoperative vitreous hemorrhage (PVH) and those without PVH after 25-gauge vitrectomy, and to investigate the predictors of PVH. The medical records of 106 eyes of 78 consecutive patients who underwent primary 25-gauge vitrectomy were reviewed. The incidences of early and late PVH were found to be 18.9 % (20/106 eyes) and 17.9 % (19/106 eyes) respectively. On multiple logistic regression analysis, intraoperative bleeding from new vessels on the disc was identified as the most important factor, with the greatest odds ratio, for the development of early PVH (odds ratio = 3.395, P = 0.134), while the HbA1c level was identified as the most important significant factor, with the greatest odds ratio, for the development of late PVH (odds ratio = 1.403, P = 0.014). Early PVH tends to occur in severe PDR cases, while late PVH tends to occur in cases with poor diabetic control.