Intraoperative Optical Coherence Tomography-Assisted 27-Gauge Vitrectomy in Eyes with Vitreoretinal Diseases

OBJECTIVE: To report intraoperative optical coherence tomography (iOCT)-assisted 27-gauge microincision vitrectomy surgery (MIVS) in eyes with vitreoretinal disease. METHODS: A retrospective, interventional case series performed at a single center, including 6 eyes with retinal disease that underwent iOCT-assisted 27-gauge MIVS. RESULTS: The advantages of iOCT were most notable when it was used to evaluate, in real time, different macular areas: the pre-macula, in vitreomacular traction or epiretinal membrane; the intra-macula, in macular edema or macular hole; and the sub-macula, in macular detachment. Real-time imaging and the minimization of shadows cast on the underlying tissues by the 27-gauge instrumentation made it possible to quickly select the best procedure at each critical juncture of the surgery. No patients experienced any complications. CONCLUSION: Real-time iOCT imaging during 27-gauge MIVS provided excellent intraoperative visualization of retinal tissues without causing significant obstructions to the surgeon. The positive feedback from the system allowed the surgeon to better judge the necessity of additional surgical procedures.