Surgical removal of the internal limiting membrane for the treatment of a macular hole.

BACKGROUND To evaluate the efficacy of internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling in the treatment of a macular hole. METHODS The ocular evaluation included Snellen visual acuity, a slit-lamp examination, indirect ophthalmoscopy, and contact lens biomicroscopy. The macular holes were confirmed using a Watzke-Allen slit beam test. Surgery consisted of a standard 3-port vitrectomy under local anesthesia. The vitreous was removed, and the macular ILM was peeled by creating a small opening and a tear in the ILM with a bent 22-gauge needle around the inner margin of the vascular arcade. The ILM flap was then grasped with end-gripping forceps, and a circular capsulorrhesis maneuver was initiated. Next, gas-fluid exchange and internal tamponade with 10% C3F8 were performed, followed by postoperative face-down positioning. RESULTS Thirty-six eyes in 36 patients with idiopathic macular holes from stages 2 to 4 were included. The average follow-up time was 8.9 months. The holes were completely closed in 33 eyes (92%), and visual acuity was improved in 26 eyes (72%). Ten eyes were pseudophakic, 24 of the 26 phakic eyes had an increased density of the cataract after surgery, which was not detected in 2 cases. One of the patients had vitreous hemorrhage and hyphema; no retinal detachment or retinal tear was found in this study. CONCLUSION Surgery for macular holes using ILM peeling has a high anatomical and functional success rate.