25-GAUGE VERSUS 27-GAUGE VITRECTOMY FOR MANAGEMENT OF VITREORETINAL DISEASES: A Large Prospective Randomized Trial.

Abstract

To compare the safety and performance clinical outcomes of the 27-gauge (G) two-dimensional cutting vitrectomy probe versus a standard 25-G probe for retinal procedures. In this large randomized prospective study, all candidates for epiretinal membrane or macular hole surgery were randomized to the 27-G group or 25-G group. Outcome measures included surgery time, changes in best-corrected distance visual acuity, intraocular pressure, and central macular thickness between baseline and 1-month and 3-month follow-up time points. Moreover, intraoperative and postoperative complications were evaluated as well as the rate of sutureless vitrectomy. A total of 463 patients were included in this study, 227 patients in the 27-G group and 236 patients in the 25-G group. A similar total surgery time was found between both groups ( P = 0.0911). Similar best-corrected distance visual acuity and central macular thickness changes were observed between baseline and the 1-month and 3-month follow-up visits. No significant differences were reported in intraoperative and postoperative complications rates. The rate of sutureless vitrectomy was 96.5% for the 27-G group and 91.1% for the 25-G group ( P = 0.0170). These results suggest that 27-G vitrectomy probe is similar to 25-G probe in surgery time and complications, while decreasing the need for vitrectomy sutures.