Objectives: The objective of this research was to evaluate the outcomes
of pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) without the use of an ocular tamponade
in patients with tractional retinal detachment (TRD) secondary to
proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) presenting to Bahawal Victoria
Hospital, Bahawalpur, Pakistan. Methods: This was an interventional
study conducted at the Department of Ophthalmology, Bahawal Victoria
(B.V.) Hospital, Bahawalpur, Pakistan, from July 2011 to July 2012. A
total of 75 patients (84 eyes) with TRD secondary to PDR were treated
by PPV without using an ocular tamponade. All patients included in the
study had a TRD secondary to PDR but did not have or develop retinal
breaks before or during the study period. The surgical procedure
included a PPV combined with the removal of the tractional retinal
membranes and the application of endolaser photocoagulation to the
retina. The mean follow-up period was 12 months. Results: The study
included 75 patients (84 eyes). Among these, 40 patients were females
and 35 males. Successful retinal reattachment was observed in 78 of the
operated eyes (92.8%). In these patients, the retina remained attached
until the end of the 12 month follow-up period. Improvement in best
corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was seen in 63 eyes (75%). The visual
acuity remained unchanged in nine eyes (10.7%). Mean improvement in
BCVA was 2.00 ± 1.24 at baseline to 1.24 ± 1.22 (P = 0.010)
at the end of the follow-up period. Conclusion: In the absence of
retinal breaks, a TRD secondary to PDR can be successfully treated and
improved by PPV without the use of an ocular tamponade