Razi Journal of Medical Sciences

  Introduction : The vitreoretinal interface is involved in a wide range of vitreoretinal disorders and separation of the posterior vitreous face from the retinal surface is an essential part of vitrectomy surgeries. A diverse range of enzymatic and non-enzymatic agents are being studied as an adjunct before or during vitrectomy to facilitate the induction of posterior vitreous detachment. There is a significant body of knowledge in the literature about different vitreolytic agents under investigation for a variety of pathologies involving the vitreoretinal interface which will be summarized in this review.

  Method s: Articles retrieved by Pubmed search using keywords “Vitreolysis”, pharmacologic Vitreolysis, plasmin and vitrectomy, and microplasmin and vitrectomy, were used in this review.

  Conclusion : recent reports have raised strong hopes that pharmacologic vitreolysis may eventually find its way to clinical practice. Further investigations will demonstrate whether enzymatic vitreolysis could be used as an adjunct and/or alternative treatment for treatment of vitreoretinal disorders.