EPIRETINAL PROLIFERATION EMBEDDING SURGERY COMBINED WITH TEMPORAL INVERTED ILM FLAP TECHNIQUE FOR LAMELLAR MACULAR HOLES.

Abstract

To evaluate the outcomes of pars plana vitrectomy combined with epiretinal proliferation (EP) embedding and temporal inverted internal limiting membrane (ILM) flap technique in cases of lamellar macular hole (LMH). This retrospective study included data from 17 consecutive patients who underwent EP embedding combined with the temporal inverted ILM flap technique for LMH. The best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and optic coherence tomography data were analyzed at baseline and postoperative period. Anatomical closure was achieved in 100% of patients. The mean baseline and final BCVA were LogMAR 0.53 ± 0.25 (Snellen 20/67) and 0.18 ± 0.19 (Snellen 20/30), respectively, demonstrating a statistically significant improvement ( P < 0.001). Furthermore, final BCVA was significantly higher in patients with a preoperative BCVA better than LogMAR 0.5 (Snellen > 20/63) ( P =0.001). The central retinal thickness improved considerably from 115.5 ± 40.8 µ m preoperatively to 208.4 ± 51.5 µ m ( P < 0.001) at the final visit. The EP embedding surgery combined with the temporal inverted ILM flap technique can provide improved anatomical and functional outcomes in patients with LMH. Their findings highlight that early intervention before severe visual loss and outer retinal defect development can be further beneficial in LMH cases.