Comparison of pars plana vitrectomy and combined pars plana vitrectomy with phacoemulsification for proliferative diabetic retinopathy: A retrospective study about 120 eyes

Purpose: To compare the outcomes of pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) and combined PPV with phacoemulsification (PPVCE) surgeries for proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) and cataract treatment. Methods: Retrospective analysis of 120 diabetic patients who underwent PPV or PPVCE. Results: The key outcome indicators were best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and post-operative complications. The PPVCE group had an average age of 53 years, with 50% females and 50% males. The initial visual acuity (VA) was 1.84 log MAR. In this group, BCVA remained stable or increased in 61 eyes (74%). Regarding the PPV group, the average age was 43 years; 65% were men while 34% were women. The initial VA was 1.83 log MAR; in this group, the VA increased or remained stable in 28 eyes (73%). The evolution of the VA was rather symmetric in the two groups without a significant difference (P = 0.9). Similarly, the occurrence of postoperative complications was comparable for the main complications studied, namely the inflammatory reaction (P = 0.809), ocular hypertension (P = 0.344), corneal edema (P = 0.07), and neovascular glaucoma (P = 0.413). However, there was a decrease in BCVA (three lines) in the PPV group after 6 months of follow-up (P = 0.05) in patients with a clear lens preoperatively and who developed a clinically evident cataract. Conclusion: According to this study, for diabetic patients with severe cataracts and vitreoretinal disease requiring vitrectomy, combining vitrectomy with phacoemulsification as a single surgical intervention may be a suitable therapeutic choice. This approach does not significantly increase the risk of visual impairment or retinopathy development.