Retinal and optic nerve functional activity after vitrectomy for vitreomacular traction syndrome

Background. Impacts of vitrectomy for vitreomacular traction syndrome on retinal and optic nerve functional activity are analyzed. Materials and methods. The electrophysiological monitoring was carried out before vitrectomy and on Days 1, 3, 7, 14, 30, 60, 180 after surgery in 59 patients (59 eyes). Patients were divided into three groups depending on the intraocular tamponade type: the first group air tamponade, the second group gas (C3F8) tamponade, the third group BSS (balanced salt solution). Results. A significant inhibition of the functional activity of neurons of internal layers of the retina and of the optic nerve was revealed on the Day 1 after surgery compared to baseline data (р 0.001). In groups I and III, the functional activity of inner layers of the retina and of the optic nerve restored twice as actively as that in the second group. Conclusions. Vitrectomy causes a reversible and significant inhibition of functional activity of retina and optic nerve. The duration of vitrectomy procedure is a significant negative factor determining the degree of depression of the functional activity of inner layers of the retina and of the optic nerve in the post-op period. The gas tamponade of the vitreous cavity with perfluoropropane-air mixture, compared to air and BSS tamponades, is a significant negative factor influencing the degree of functional activity inhibition of retina and optic nerve after surgery.