Effect of pneumatic vitreolysis in management of patients with symptomatic focal vitreomacular traction

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of single intravitreal injection of an expansile concentration of sulphur hexafluoride gas (SF6) in treating patients with symptomatic focal vitreomacular traction (VMT) documented by spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) preoperatively. METHODS: This is a prospective interventional case series including 30 eyes of 29 patients with symptomatic focal VMT evident on SD-OCT. Pre-operatively, mean best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 20/125 (range 20/400–20/40). Mean central foveal thickness (CFT) was 382 μm (range 149–576 μm; SD ± 91.88). All eyes received single intravitreal injection of 0.3 mL of 100% SF6 gas. Postoperatively, we performed SD-OCT at one week, one month, and three months for all eyes. Primary outcome measure was release of VMT. Secondary outcome measures were changes in postoperative BCVA andCFT. RESULTS: Overall, VMT release occurred in 24 of 30 eyes by the final follow-up visit (80% final release rate); furthermore, 76.9% of eyes with diabetic maculopathy and 25% of eyes with concurrent epiretinal membrane (ERM) had successful VMT release. VMT release was documented on SD-OCT at an average of 3 weeks (range, 1–12 weeks). The rate of release in phakic eyes was 90% (18 of 20 eyes) versus 60% in pseudophakic eyes (6 of 10 eyes). One patient developed a retinal break at upper nasal retina after two weeks of injection. CONCLUSION: Pneumatic vitreolysis (PVL) with limited face-down position is a viable option for treating focal VMT with few adverse events. Further studies are needed to evaluate its indications, benefits, and risks.