Influence of sclerotomy use on vitreous incarceration in an experimental model of vitrectomized eye

Abstract

Javier Benitez-Herreros,1 Lorenzo Lopez-Guajardo,1,2 Cristina Camara-Gonzalez,1 Aurora Perez-Crespo,1 Agustin Silva-Mato,3 Miguel A Teus1,2 1Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Príncipe de Asturias, Madrid, Spain; 2Department of Surgery, Medical and Social Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Alcalá University, Madrid, Spain; 3Department of Health and Sociomedical Sciences, Alcalá University, Madrid, Spain Purpose: To evaluate the influence of sclerotomy use during vitrectomy (vitreous cutter, illumination probe, or infusion-line entrance) on postoperative vitreous incarceration using an experimental model of vitrectomized eye. Materials and methods: Experimental, randomized, and observer-masked study in which 23-gauge transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy was performed in cadaveric pig eyes. Postoperative incisional vitreous entrapment was evaluated by direct visualization. No vitreous incarceration was classified as grade 0 (G0), thin vitreous entrapment was classified as grade 1 (G1), and thick vitreous strands as grade 2 (G2). Results: A total of 46 eyes were included. Vitreous incarceration was detected in 91.3% (43.5% G1, 47.8% G2) of the sclerotomies used by the vitreous cutter probe, 95.7% (45.7% G1, 50% G2) of the illumination-pipe entrances, and 93.5% (45.7% G1, 47.8% G2) of the infusion-line incisions. No statistical differences were found when comparing incisional vitreous incarceration after vitrectomy according to sclerotomy use. Conclusion: Different manipulation of the sclerotomies, depending on their use, does not seem to influence postvitrectomy vitreous entrapment in our experimental model. Keywords: vitrectomy, vitreous incarceration, direct visualization, sclerotomy use, experimental model