Abstract: Objective To evaluate the efficacy of 23 gauge(G) vitrectomy for proliferative diabetic retinopathy(PDR). Design Retrospective case series. Participants 105 eyes of 100 patients with PDR from Beijing Tongren Hospital were included. Methods All the eyes were performed 23-gauge vitrectomy on by the same surgeon from January 2010 to June 2011. Surgical procedures including surgical time, times of tool exchanges, visual outcome and postoperative reactions were summarized. Main Outcome Measures Surgical time, times of tool exchanges, visual outcome and postoperative reactions. Results 32/105 eyes were simple vitreous hemorrhage, in which the average surgical time was 52.0±15.2 minutes, and times of tool exchanges were 8.5±2.5. 23/105 eyes needed proliferative membrane peeling without significant tractional retinal detachment, in which the average surgical time was 65.0±12.7 minutes, and times of tool exchanges were 12.4±3.4. 50/105 eyes were tractional and secondary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment, in which the average surgical time was 87.0±17.1 minutes, and times of tool exchanges were 15.7±4.1. Silicone oil injection was performed on 30 eyes. There was no dialysis of ora serrata in all the patients. As for intraoperative bleeding episodes, electrocoagulation were performed on 16/105 eyes. No intraocular scissors were used. Visual acuity  of all patients improved 1-3 months after operation. Conclusion 23 G system vitrectomy can be used in both simple and complicated cases of PDR. The advantages based on the unique construction of the vitrector and using of cannulas lead to get high efficiency, less intraoperative and postoperative complications and better outcome. (Ophthalmol CHN, 2012, 21: 97-101)

Key words:  vitrectomy, proliferative diabetic retinopathy/surgery