MACULAR HOLE HYDRODISSECTION: Surgical Technique for the Treatment of Persistent, Chronic, and Large Macular Holes.

PURPOSE

To present a new technique, macular hole hydrodissection, that increases the likelihood of closure for challenging macular holes (MHs) with multiple risk factors.

METHODS

A retrospective review of all consecutive eyes with idiopathic Stage 3 and 4 MHs that were either persistent (failed previous vitrectomy surgery), chronic (symptoms of central vision loss of ≥2 years or a clinical diagnosis for ≥1 year), and/or large (aperture diameter of ≥400 μm), having undergone the macular hole hydrodissection surgical technique between January 1, 2014, and May 1, 2017, from an institutional practice setting was conducted. This technique lyses retina-retinal pigment epithelium adhesions by injecting fluid into the MH and allows for successful closure as the mobile edges are then brought closer together.

RESULTS

Thirty-nine eyes of 39 patients with mean MH aperture and base diameters of 549.1 ± 159.47 μm and 941.97 ± 344.14 were included. Complete anatomical closure was achieved in 87.2% (34/39) of MHs. Vision improvement was observed in 94.9% (37/39) and gain of ≥2 lines was achieved in 79.5% (31/39). Of the MHs that achieved anatomical success, 100% (34/34) had a Type 1 closure. The mean postoperative follow-up was 320.33 ± 269.04 days.

CONCLUSION

The macular hole hydrodissection surgical technique improves anatomical and functional outcomes of persistent, chronic, and/or large MHs.