AIM: To observe the visual recovery and complications in patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy(PDR)after vitrectomy combined with phacoemulsification.

METHODS: According to different surgical methods, 95 cases(95 eyes)with PDR were divided into the observation group(50 cases)and the control group(45 cases). The observation group was treated with vitrectomy and phacoemulsification, while the control group was treated with vitrectomy and lensectomy. The visual recovery, changes of intraocular pressure before and after surgery and the complications were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS: The visual acuity of the two groups was significantly improved after surgery(P<0.05), and the improvement in observation group was significantly greater than that in the control group(P<0.05). The intraocular pressure of the two groups was increased significantly at 1, 3 and 6mo after surgery(P<0.05), without significant difference between the two groups(P>0.05). The incidence of iris neovascularization and capsule opacification in the observation group(2%, 6%)were significantly lower than those in the control group(18%, 27%; P<0.05).

CONCLUSION: Vitrectomy combined with phacoemulsification can obviously improve the visual acuity of patients with PDR, and the incidence of complications is low. Although it will lead to an increase in intraocular pressure, it can be improved after symptomatic treatment.