Outcome of diabetic vitrectomy in Latino population

PURPOSE: Evaluation of visual acuity and anatomic outcome in Latino patients undergoing vitrectomy for proliferative diabetic retinopathy, using silicone oil or gas tamponade. METHODS: Retrospective review of 57 vitrectomies, 42 in Latino patients, performed by a single surgeon over a 3-year period. RESULTS: Seventy-four percent of vitrectomies were on patients of Latino descent. Sixty-three percent of eyes had traction retinal detachments involving the macula. Overall, 29% in the Latino group received silicone oil tamponade, while the remainder received gas tamponade. In the gas treatment group, 16% developed rhegmatogenous detachments, while no rhegmatogenous detachments occurred in oil-treated eyes. This difference was not statistically significant. Follow-up ranged from 1 to 4 years (median, 1 year). The change from pre- to postsurgery visual acuity was calculated for both gas and oil treated groups, showing no statistically significant difference. Pre- and postsurgery visual acuity median was hand motions for both. CONCLUSION: There was no statistically significant difference in final anatomic outcome or visual outcome in Latino eyes undergoing surgery for severe proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Silicone oil and gas tamponade appeared to work equally well in this population.