A novel video overlay guided enlargement of area of ILM peeled versus inverted flap technique: A long-term study in large macular holes.

BACKGROUND/AIM: To compare the intra-operative video overlay guided enlargement of Area of ILM peeled (AIP) more than three Disc Diameter (DD) versus the inverted flap technique in large (>400 µm ) Full Thickness Macular Holes (FTMH).

METHODS

Retrospectively, 127 cases of large FTMHs divided into two groups (i) Group A ( = 62)-intra-operative video-overlay guided enlargement of AIP > 3DD performed and (ii) Group B ( = 65)-Inverted flap technique was done. Mean Best Corrected Visual Acuity (BCVA), hole closure rate and postoperative foveal anatomy were noted on Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT).

RESULTS

Mean Minimal Diameter of Macular Hole (MDMH) were 632.05 ± 146.62 µm (A) and 677.24 ± 152.08 µm (B). Hole closure rate were 93.55% (A) and 96.92% (B). Mean preoperative BCVA was 1.07 ± 0.37 Log MAR (A) and 0.94 ± 0.23 Log MAR (B). Mean postoperative BCVA at 3 months were 0.73 ± 0.22 Log MAR (A) and 0.83 ± 0.24 Log MAR (B). One-way ANOVA test showed statistically better visual improvement in Group A at 3 months ( = 0.02), 6 months ( = 0.045), 12 months ( = 0.002), and 24 months ( = 0.011). Chi square test revealed Type I pattern of hole closure was statistically more in Group B ( < 0.001). Delayed Recovery of Outer Retinal Layers was more in group B (Pearson Chi square test,  = 0.039).

CONCLUSION

Anatomically, macular hole closure rate as well as closure pattern was better in Group B. But functional improvement was better in Group A.