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Secondary vitreoretinal surgery may be beneficial after severe open-globe injury
Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2009; 247(4):477-483.
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About one-quarter of patients with no light perception before open-globe repair for ocular trauma will recover vision of light perception or better, but prompt referral for vitreoretinal surgery may be of benefit, according to a study.
Over a 5-year period, researchers at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary looked at 648 cases of open-globe repair; 88 patients had no light perception before open-globe repair.
Of those patients, 23 (26.1%) spontaneously recovered light perception or better vision. Eight of the patients had been referred for a secondary vitreoretinal surgery; five of the eight had recovery of vision ranging from hand motions to 20/70.
In addition, all of the eyes that were not referred for secondary vitreoretinal surgery returned to no light perception within 7 months.
According to the study, patients who had hand motion or better vision before the second vitreoretinal surgery, recovery of vision within 5 days of open-globe repair or vitreoretinal surgery within 5 weeks of the initial surgery had a better visual prognosis in the long term.