A novel, low-cost and practical illumination approach for bimanual vitrectomy

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The present study aims to describe a novel, low-cost, transconjunctival sutureless bimanual vitrectomy illumination approach and evaluate its surgical outcome.METHODS: Thirty-six eyes of 36 patients who underwent pars plana vitrectomy with the above-mentioned technique wereincluded in this study. Four trocars were placed in superotemporal, inferotemporal, inferonasal and superonasal quadrants. Apiece (23 mm) was cut from 30G intravenous cannula and a 30 mm endoillumination probe was placed inside this sleeve. Thisdesign limited the entry of the light probe into the vitreous cavity to 7 mm and provided a safe illumination by the assistantwithout the risk of damaging the retinal tissue.RESULTS: Thirty-six eyes of 36 patients were included (24 male, 12 female, mean age: 58.4±14.3 years) in this study. Thirtypatients had rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (six of these patients with coexisting choroidal detachment), four patientshad diabetic tractional retinal detachment, one patient had a nucleus drop and one patient had an intraocular foreign body.The mean follow-up time after pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) was 5.05±4.4 months. LogMAR best-corrected visual acuity improved significantly after PPV (p