Removal of Internal Limiting Membrane in Managing Stage 3 Idiopathic Macular Holes

Purpose: To determine the indications for internal limiting membrane (ILM) removal in stage 3 idiopathic macular holes (MHs).Methods: Posterior vitreous detachments (PVDs) at MH rims were examined preoperatively by optical coherence tomography and binocular slit-lamp fundus examination in 19 patients. All eyes underwent pars plana vitrectomy and creation of a PVD, and some eyes underwent a second surgery to remove the ILM. Indications of ILM removal for MH closure were discussed.Results: Preoperatively, 9 eyes (non-PVD group) and 10 eyes did (PVD group) have complete focal PVDs. In all nine eyes in the non-PVD group, MHs were closed after the creation of a PVD without ILM peeling (p 0.05, X² test). In the PVD group, 5 eyes (50%) had MHs closed by making PVD complete without ILM removal, and 5 eyes (50%) required ILM removal in a second surgery. In the end, closure of MHs was achieved in all eyes.Conclusion: Anatomic closure of stage 3 idiopathic MHs without a PVD at the rim of the hole may be achieved only by creating a PVD without ILM removal.