Contralateral Autologous Internal Limiting Membrane Transplantation for Closure of a Refractory Macular Hole: Surgical Technique.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

To determine the efficacy of a new surgical technique involving use of a contralateral autologous internal limiting membrane (ILM) free flap for closure of a refractory macular hole (MH).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Closure could not be achieved after several MH surgeries in a 72-year-old woman with an epiretinal membrane (ERM) in the right eye and a chronic MH in the left eye. Therefore, the authors performed surgery on the left eye using a contralateral autologous ILM free flap obtained during ERM surgery performed on the right eye.

RESULTS

The refractory MH had disappeared, and the patient's corrected visual acuity was improved in both eyes by 4 months after surgery.

CONCLUSION

When a suitable free flap cannot be obtained from the operated eye, contralateral autologous ILM transplantation has the potential to improve functional and anatomical outcomes in an eye with a refractory MH. [Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina. 2018;49:e75-e77.].