Abstract
Purpose: :
to evaluate the rate of long term reopening of operated idiopathic macular holes (IMH).
Methods: :
we conducted a retrospective study in two academic centers. IMH were operated with pars plana vitrectomy, intravitreal gas and internal limiting membrane peeling between 2002 and 2004. All these macular holes were analyzed with OCT 3 before and after the surgery. We divided them into 4 groups: group 1: vitrectomy followed by cataract extraction; group 2: vitrectomy only; group 3: vitrectomy and cataract extraction as a combined procedure; group 4: vitrectomy in pseudophakic eyes.
Results: :
43 eyes were included: group 1=19 eyes; group 2=5 eyes; group 3=13 eyes and group 4=6 eyes. The stage of IMH were as follows; stage 2, n=6, stage 3, n=33 and stage 4, n=4. Mean follow-up was 41.4 ± 4 months, and macular holes size was 426 ± 92 µ. We did not observe any recurrence of the macular hole during the follow up (41.4 ± 4 months).The following complications were noted: 6 peroperative retinal breaks, 2 postoperative retinal detachments and 2 macular atrophies.
Conclusions: :
we did not find any reopening of successfully operated IMH during this period of time. Internal limiting membrane peeling could play a beneficial role by inhibiting epiretinal membrane formation.
Keywords: macular holes • cataract • vitreoretinal surgery