Application of Laser Flare Photometry in the Quantification of Blood-Aqueous Barrier Breakdown after Micro-incision Vitrectomy.

Purpose: The purpose of the study is to quantify aqueous flare using laser flare photometry (LFM) in patients undergoing 25-G pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) and assess the need for postoperative topical corticosteroid administration . Methods: Prospective evaluation of 50 eyes (50 patients) was performed using LFM until day 30 postoperative. Duration of surgery, indication of PPV, and use of laser and/or cryotherapy were noted. Topical corticosteroids were used if mean LFM values were >50, or if there was anterior chamber fibrin. Results: Mean age of the subjects was 48.62 ± 10.07 years. The preoperative LFM value for 50 subjects was 17.42 ± 25.20. Topical corticosteroids were initiated in only 22 patients. The LFM values of subjects were not different from baseline at 1 month whether or not the subjects received corticosteroids (p > 0.106). Conclusions: With 25-G PPV, there is minimal breakdown of blood-aqueous barrier. LFM helps in monitoring postoperative inflammation, obviating the need for topical corticosteroids in significant number of patients.