Objective: Advanced proliferative diabetic retinopathy can lead to serious ophthalmological complications, including blindness. This research aimed to determine visual outcomes after pars plana vitrectomy secondary to proliferative diabetic retinopathy, as well as to identify its predictors.

Methods: This prospective clinical study was performed in the Ophthalmology Clinic of the Clinical Centre University of Sarajevo. 60 subjects (eyes) with performed pars plana vitrectomy secondary to proliferative diabetic retinopathy were included in the study.

Results: After univariate linear regression analysis, glucose, HbA1c, vascular endothelial growth factor, previous pan-retinal laser photocoagulation, baseline best corrected visual acuity, gas injection, vitreous haemorrhage, iris rubeosis, and glaucoma were found to be statistically significant parameters associated with postoperative visual outcome (p< 0.05). Multivariate linear regression analysis was performed to evaluate the association between factors and postoperative best corrected visual acuity. Only intravitreal vascular endothelial growth factor concentration, previous pan-retinal photocoagulation, and gas injection remained statistically significant associated with postoperative best corrected visual acuity (p< 0.05).

Conclusion: Vitrectomy is an effective treatment for advanced proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Factors correlated with the better visual outcome are good systemic control, previous pan-retinal photocoagulation, low intravitreal vascular endothelial growth factor concentration, younger age, intraoperative internal gas tamponade, combined phacoemulsification and pars plana vitrectomy surgery, and the absence of postoperative complications.

Abbreviations: PDR= proliferative diabetic retinopathy, VEGF= vascular endothelial growth factor, TDR= tractional retinal detachment, BCVA= best corrected visual acuity, DR= diabetic retinopathy, RDD= rhegmatogenous retinal detachment, NVG= neovascular glaucoma, BRVO= branch retinal vein occlusion, CBC= complete blood count, DBT= differential blood count, ESR= erythrocyte sedimentation rate, HbA1c= glycosylated hemoglobin, PHACO= phacoemulsification, ILM= internal limiting membrane, PPV= pars plana vitrectomy, IOP= intraocular pressure, PRP= pan-retinal photocoagulation, ETDRS= Early treatment diabetic retinopathy study