AIM: To compare the clinical effect of 23G and 25G+ vitrectomy for retinal detachment.

METHODS: Forty seven patients with retinal detachment were treated with 23G vitrectomy(27 eyes in 27 cases as group A)and 25G+ vitrectomy(20 eyes in 20 cases as group B). The operation time and the incidence of intraoperative complications were recorded. The occurrence of retinal reposition, visual acuity, intraocular pressure(IOP)and complications were observed. Postoperative follow-up time of the two groups were 3d, 1wk, 3mo.The relevant records were statistically analyzed and compared.

RESULTS: The operation time of 23G group and 25G+ group were 50.21+4.52min, 49.15+5.14min,respectively and there was no significant difference between the two groups(P>0.05). The main complications were retinal hemorrhage and iatrogenic retinal hole. There were 3 eyes with retinal hemorrhage, 2 eyes with iatrogenic retinal hole in 23G group, and 1 eye with retinal hemorrhage, 1 eye with iatrogenic retinal hole in the 25G+ group, and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05). The postoperative visual acuity of 23G group and 25G+ group were significantly improved, and the differences between the two groups were not statistically significant at different time points after operation(P>0.05). The number of eyes with hypotonia in 23G and 25G+ group were 3 and 1 eyes respectively, the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05). But there were no significant differences between the two groups on IOP at 1wk and 3mo after surgery(P>0.05). At the last follow-up, the results showed that 26 eyes(96%)with retinal reposition in 23G group, 19 eyes(95%)in 25G+ group, the difference was not statistically significant(P>0.05).

CONCLUSION: The clinical effect of 23G and 25G+ vitrectomy for retinal detachment is similar, but 25G+ vitrectomy can reduce incidence of complications and early postoperative low IOP.