Differences between the combination of the 25-gauge vitrectomy with phacoemulsification versus 20-gauge vitrectomy and phacofragmentation

Pere Romero-Aroca¹, Matias Almena-Garcia¹, Marc Baget-Bernaldiz¹, Juan Fernández-Ballart², Isabel Méndez-Marin¹, Angel Bautista-Perez¹

¹Ophthalmic Service, Hospital Universitario Sant Joan, IISPV, Universidad Rovira I Virgili, Reus, Spain; ²Department of Basic Sciences, University Rovira I Virgili, Tarragona, Spain

Introduction: In the present study we determine the differences observed between 25-gauge-vitrectomy combined with phacoemulsification, and the 20-gauge-vitrectomy combined with pars plana phacofragmentation.

Methods: A prospective study of a sample of 987 eyes of 661 patients randomly divided into two groups. 25-gauge-vitrectomy plus phacoemulsification included 486 eyes, and 20-gauge-vitrectomy plus phacofragmentation 501 eyes. We evaluated the differences at the time of the surgery, the intra- and postoperative complications, and the variations in intraocular pressure.

Results: The final visual outcome was similar in both groups. The most important differences between groups were: surgical time was faster in group 1 than in group 2, (mean time: 35.16 ± 3.49, 44.74 ± 5.30 minutes). Intraoperative complications were more numerous in group 1. In group 1, postoperative low levels of intraocular pressure are present in all patients with 2.77% of patients with hypotension (<8 mmHg), and three choroidal effusion. In group 2, intraocular lens decentration and retinal detachment are more frequent (2.38% and 1.39%, respectively).

Conclusions: In the present study, both techniques have a similar number of complications and have a similar postoperative outcome, and are valid for the management of the pathologies selected.

Keywords: transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy, sutureless vitrectomy, 25-gauge, 20-gauge, cataract, phacoemulsification, phacofragmentation, hypotony, complications