Beschreibung:
<jats:title>ABSTRACT.</jats:title><jats:p><jats:bold>Methods:</jats:bold> 40 cases of vitreous haemorrhage secondary to Eales' disease were taken up for vitrectomy. Depending upon duration of vitreous haemorrhage patients were divided into two groups: Group I (20 eyes); early vitrectomy group with duration between 3–6 months; Group II (20 eyes); deferred vitrectomy group with duration of more than 6 months. All patients were followed up for a minimum period of 3 months following vitrectomy.</jats:p><jats:p><jats:bold>Results:</jats:bold> Eyes in Group I showing a preoperative ultrasonic picture of complete posterior vitreous detachment, less mobility of organised vitreous haemorrhage and mid vitreous organisation on kinetic echography achieved a final visual acuity of 6/9 or better in 13 (65%) eyes as compared to 4 (20%) eyes in Group II (p<0.01). Poor visual outcome in the deferred group was secondary to cystoid macular oedema, macular scar, macular pucker formation and macular degeneration.</jats:p><jats:p><jats:bold>Conclusion:</jats:bold> Improved visual outcome in the early vitrectomy group was probably because the haemorrhagic blood and its toxic products had less time to damage the macula, a lesser incidence of macular traction and cystoid macular oedema.</jats:p>