NOVEL ENDOSCOPE-ASSISTED VITREOUS SURGERY COMBINED WITH ATMOSPHERIC ENDOSCOPIC TECHNIQUE AND/OR SUBRETINAL ENDOSCOPIC TECHNIQUE FOR RHEGMATOGENOUS RETINAL DETACHMENT WITH GRADE C PROLIFERATIVE VITREORETINOPATHY.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical outcomes of novel endoscope-assisted vitreous surgery techniques in patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment complicated by Grade C proliferative vitreoretinopathy. Methods: Eight consecutive patients who had undergone endoscope-assisted vitreous surgery for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment complicated by Grade C proliferative vitreoretinopathy were investigated. The peripheral vitreous was cut under air with the aid of endoscopic view (atmospheric endoscopic technique), and the subretinal proliferation was removed under subretinal endoscopic observation (subretinal endoscopic technique). Results: Retinal reattachment was achieved after the primary surgery without a large retinotomy and scleral buckling in each case. The mean follow-up was 16.8 months (range, 8-28 months). Atmospheric endoscopic technique was performed in all cases, and subretinal endoscopic technique was performed in three cases. After surgery, the mean best-corrected visual acuity significantly improved from 20/778 to 20/111 (P = 0.014). Although microretinal breaks occurred during the removal of vitreous using atmospheric endoscopic technique in all cases, there were no severe postoperative complications, such as retinal detachment or proliferative vitreoretinopathy. Conclusion: Endoscope-assisted vitreous surgery with atmospheric endoscopic technique and/or subretinal endoscopic technique is safe and effective in the treatment of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment with Grade C proliferative vitreoretinopathy.