Purpose: To evaluate the nibble technology in the therapy of diabetic retinopathy.
Methods: Eighty-three patients (ninety-two eyes) with proliferative diabetic retinopathy were treated in our department. All the patients received a standard pars plana vitrectomy. Fifty-two of them (fifty-eight eyes) were treated with nibble technology, while the other thirty-one (thirty-four eyes), who were treated with common procedure to tear the proliferative membrane, were served as a control group.
Result: The operative complication of iatrogenic retinal tears was observed in 2 eyes of the test group and 7 eyes of the control group (P < 0.05). Another operative complication of hemorrhage was observed in 4 eyes of the test group and 15 eyes of the control group (P < 0.01). There were 6 eyes of the test group and 5 eyes of the control group presented with grade-III postoperative responds (P > 0.01).
Conclusion: The nibble technology is safe in the therapy of proliferative diabetic retinopathy and could reduce the complications during or after the operation.