Purpose: The purpose of this study is to report on the prevalence, incidence, and associated risk factors of iris neovascularization in nondiabetic patients undergoing vitrectomy for retinal detachment complicated by proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR).
Methods: The authors conducted a retrospective review of 141 consecutive non-diabetic patients undergoing vitrectomy for recurrent retinal detachment resulting from PVR. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed on all patients to determine which preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative factors were associated with the development of postoperative iris neovascularization.
Results: Twenty-seven of the 141 (19%) patients were noted with preoperative and/or postoperative iris neovascularization. Four of eight patients presenting with preoperative iris neovascularization had complete regression after successful reattachment of the retina. Results of analysis of the remaining 133 patients without iris neovascularization preoperatively showed residual retinal detachment as the most significant risk factor for postoperative iris neovascularization. In the absence of panretinal photocoagulation, none of the 27 patients developed neovascular glaucoma.
Conclusions: The development of iris neovascularization preoperatively or post-operatively is not necessarily a predictor of a poor anatomic and/or visual result. Iris neovascularization in PVR rarely if ever progresses to neovascular glaucoma. Panretinal photocoagulation is not indicated in these patients. Retinal reattachment is the most important factor in the prevention and/or resolution of postoperative iris neovascularization. The development of iris neovascularization in PVR appears to be a multifactorial process requiring multiple variables acting in concert.