Vitrectomy for large vitreous opacity in retinitis pigmentosa.

Abstract

To describe a patient with bilateral retinitis pigmentosa and visually disabling vitreous opacities, who benefited from vitrectomy in both eyes. A 37-year-old man with retinitis pigmentosa and severely constricted visual fields developed a large, dense, vitreous floater and visual obscuration in the right eye. Subsequently, diffuse vitreous opacification and visual obscuration developed in the left eye. Bilateral pars plana vitrectomy relieved the patient's visual obscurations. Electron micrographs of the excised vitreous opacity from the left eye showed collagen fibrils and cellular debris. Visually significant vitreous opacities may develop as a complication of retinitis pigmentosa. The visual impact of such opacities may be magnified by its superimposition on limited visual fields. Vitrectomy may be of benefit in such cases.