AIM: To explore the effect of preoperative bevacizumab assisted 23G vitrectomy combined with endolaser photocoagulation in the treatment of severe proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 90 cases with severe proliferative diabetic retinopathy in our hospital from January 2014 to June 2015, which were all monocular lesion, and all patients received 23G vitrectomy combined with endolaser photocoagulation, 40 cases without preoperative injection of bevacizumab were set as the control group, 50 cases with preoperative injection of bevacizumab were set as the study group. All patients were followed up for 6 to 12mo, the operative time, postoperative intraocular pressure, visual acuity, the change of macular thickness were compared between the two groups, and we observed postoperative complications.

RESULTS: There were significant differences in overall BCVA between the two groups(P<0.01). However, there was no significant difference in BCVA between the two groups after operation(P>0.05).There was no significant difference on postoperative IOP in both groups(P> 0.05). There was significant difference between the two groups on macular thickness(P<0.05). The thickness of the macula significantly decreased in both groups at 1d after operation, and the thickness of the macula was stable at 3mo after operation. There was no significant difference between the two groups(P> 0.05). The operation time of the study group was shorter than that of the control group, with significant difference between the two groups(P<0.05). And the incidence of iatrogenic retinal tears and retinal detachment in study group were significantly lower than those in control group(P<0.05).

CONCLUSION: Compared with single vitrectomy, preoperative bevacizumab assisted 23G vitrectomy combined with endolaser photocoagulation in the treatment of severe proliferative diabetic retinopathy has certain effect and short operation time, and can reduce intraoperative and postoperative complications.