Materials and Methods: Patients who underwent pars plana vitrectomy for advanced proliferative diabetic retinopathy complications in Gazi University, Ophthalmology Clinic between years 2000-2004 were divided into 3 groups which consist of vitreous hemorrhage (VH-Group 1), tractional retinal detachment (TRD-Group 2) and VH with TRD (Group 3), respectively. Patient records were evaluated retrospectively for the duration and the type of diabetes, preoperative and postoperative visual acuity, the status of the fellow eye, follow-up period, the preoperative and postoperative status of the fundus, complications, the surgical technique and intraocular tamponade used. Statistical analysis were made with Paired t-test (SPSS 10.0) and p<0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results: 136 eyes of 121 patients were included in this study. There were 72 women and 49 men and the mean age was 54.4±12.0. After 7.5±5.7 month follow-up period, retina was attached in 37 of 39 patients in group 1, 45 of 49 patients in group 2, 45 of 48 patients in group 3. The mean preoperative visual acuity of 0.03±0.07 statistically significantly increased to 0.16±0.19 postoperatively (p<0.05). Functional success was significantly higher in patients with vitreous hemorrhage than the patients with tractional retinal detachment with vitreous hemorrhage (p<0.05).

Conclusion: In patients with advanced proliferative diabetic retinopathy complications, anatomical success rate was high after vitreoretinal surgery but functional success rate remains low, especially in patients with TRD. Keywords : proliferative diabetic retinopathy, vitrectomy