Purpose: To evaluate the incidence and risk factors of optic nerve atrophy after vitrectomy for diabetic retinopathy.
Subjects and methods: Clinical charts of 48 eyes of 40 patients who underwent vitrectomy for diabetic retinopathy were retrospectively reviewed. The relationship between postoperative optic nerve atrophy and patients' physical condition was statistically analyzed.
Result: Postoperative optic nerve atrophy, distinct from glaucomatous optic nerve atrophy, occurred in 5 eyes (10.4%). Its incidence was correlated with higher plasma creatinine concentration (p=0.001), proliferative diabetic retinopathy (p= 0.046), and retinal white vessel formation (p= 0.007). Maintenance of the best postoperative visual acuity was difficult in the patients with optic nerve atrophy.
Conclusion: Patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy accompanied by renal dysfunction were at high risk of optic nerve atrophy after vitrectomy.