Leila Ghiasian - MD,Eye research center Rassoul Akram Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Shohreh Bakhti - MD,Eye research center Rassoul Akram Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Reza Kiaee Afshar - MD,Eye research center Rassoul Akram Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Amirpooya Alemzadeh - MD,Eye research center Rassoul Akram Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Purpose: To evaluate the incidence, risk factor and clinical course of corneal epithelial defect (CED) after pars plana vitrectomy (PPV Methods: : Our study population included 150 eyes who undergone PPV from April 2013 to March 2014. All post-operative CEDs were documented. The persistent CED (PCED) was defined as CED lasting more than 2 weeks after PPV. The demographic, preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative data were compared between CED and non-CED groups.Results: Post-PPV CED occurred in 53 of 150 (35.3%) eyes. Older age (P=0.02) and previous ophthalmic surgery (P=0.04) were associated with postoperative CED. Gender, diabetes, duration of surgery and intraoperative tamponade did not correlate with development of postoperative CED. Among 53 eyes with CED, 3 eyes developed PCED (5.66%).Conclusion: The incidence of CED after PPV was 35.3% and 5.66% experienced PCED. Older age and previous ophthalmic surgery were risk factors for CED after PPV. Early management is necessary for patient with post-PPV CED and most of them (94.3%), healed within 2 weeks by initial treatment.