Foveal-Sparing ILM Peeling with ILM Flap Transposition over the Macular Hole for Repair of Full-Thickness Macular Holes

Abstract

Background Full-thickness macular holes, defined as full-thickness defects of the fovea, lead to central scotoma and deterioration of vision. Apart from peeling of the internal limiting membrane (ILM), ILM flap techniques have been reported to have potential in improving results in macular hole surgery. In addition, foveal-sparing ILM peeling gives a high macular hole closure rate and improvement in postoperative visual acuity. The aim of this study was to examine outcomes in a cohort of patients with full-thickness macular holes that underwent vitrectomy with foveal-sparing ILM peeling and transposition of an ILM flap over the macular hole.

Methods This retrospective study included patients scheduled for pars plana vitrectomy with foveal-sparing ILM peeling, combined with ILM flap transposition over the macular hole, for macular hole repair. All patients received a gas tamponade with 20% sulphur hexafluoride and were encouraged to undergo postoperative face-down positioning for 48 hours after surgery. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging of the macula and distance-corrected visual acuity (DCVA) were performed before and 3 months after surgery.

Results In total, 42 eyes of 42 patients were included in this study. Leaving a broad area of residual ILM at the foveal rim led to a high risk of failure in macular hole closure, while leaving a narrow zone of residual ILM at the foveal rim resulted in high macular hole closure rates (97% type 1 closure and 3% type 2 closure), with a median improvement of DCVA of 4 lines [interquartile range (IQR): 3 to 6] among pseudophakic and 3.5 lines (IQR: 2 to 5) among phakic patients.

Conclusions A combination of foveal-sparing ILM peeling with ILM flap techniques was shown to be a safe and effective surgical option for patients with full-thickness macular holes, resulting in a high macular hole closure rate and improvement in visual acuity in the majority of patients.

Zusammenfassung

Hintergrund Makulaforamina werden definiert als alle retinalen Schichten betreffende Defekte der Fovea, und führen zu zentralen Skotomen und Visusverschlechterung. Abgesehen vom Peeling der “internal limiting membrane” (ILM) und “ILM flap” Techniken, die Potenzial zur Verbesserung der Resultate in der Chirurgie von Makulaforamina haben, zeigte das foveaaussparende Peeling der ILM eine hohe Verschlussrate von Makulaforamina und Verbesserung des Visus. Das Ziel dieser Studie war es, die Resultate in eine Patientenkohorte nach Vitrektomie mit foveaaussparendem ILM-Peeling mit Transposition eines ILM-Lappens über das Makulaforamen zu untersuchen.

Patienten/Material und Methoden Diese retrospektive Studie inkludierte Patient*innen, die zur Pars Plana Vitrektomie mit foveaaussparendem ILM-Peeling mit ILM-flap-Transposition über das Makulaforamen geplant waren. Alle Patient*innen erhielten eine Gastamponade mit Sulfur Hexafluorid 20% und wurden zur postoperativen “face down” Positionierung motiviert. Aufnahmen mit der optischen Kohärenztomographie (OCT) und Testung des bestkorrigierten Fernvisus (DCVA) erfolgten vor und 3 Monate nach der Operation.

Ergebnisse Es konnten 42 Augen von 42 Patient*innen in diese Studie inkludiert werden. Das Belassen einer breiten residualen ILM-Zone um das Makulaforamen führte zu einem hohen Risiko eines Versagens in Bezug auf den Makulaforamenverschluß, während beim Belassen einer schmalen ILM-Zone um das Makulaforamen eine hohe Verschlußrate der Makulaforamina erfolgte (97% Typ 1 und 3% Typ 2 Verschluß). Die mediane Verbesserung des DCVA betrug 4 Zeilen (Interquartilrange (IQR): 3 bis 6) bei pseudophaken Patient*innen und 3.5 Zeilen (IQR: 2 bis 5) bei phaken Patient*innen.

Schlussfolgerung Die Kombination eines foveaaussparenden ILM-Peelings mit ILM-flap Techniken erwies sich als sichere und effektive chirurgische Option für Patient*innen mit Makulaforamina und resultierte in einer hohen Makulaforamenverschlussrate und einer Verbesserung des Visus bei einer Mehrzahl der Patient*innen.

Key words

foveal-sparing ILM peeling - ILM flap transposition - full-thickness macular hole

Schlüsselwörter

foveaaussparendes ILM-Peeling - ILM-Flap-Transposition - Makulaforamen

Introduction

Full-thickness macular holes, defined as full-thickness defects of the fovea, lead to central scotoma and deterioration of vision, and can be classified as primary (idiopathic) macular holes (iMHs), or secondary macular holes. iMHs are hypothesized to be induced by antero-posterior traction of the vitreous at the fovea [1] and/or vitreoschisis [2], whereas secondary macular holes are caused by conditions such as blunt trauma, lightning strike, high myopia, macular schisis, macular telangiectasia type 2, exudative age-related macular degeneration undergoing anti-VEGF treatment, macroaneurysm, and surgical trauma [3]. Macular holes have been found in 0.5% of the participants of the “Beaver Dam Eye Study” attending a follow-up examination with optical coherence tomography (OCT) [4], and McCannel et al. have described the incidence of iMHs with 7.8 persons per 100 000 [5].

Foveal-sparing peeling of the internal limiting membrane (ILM), initially proposed by Ho et al. [6] and Shimada et al. [7] for patients with myopic foveoschisis in 2012, has the potential to minimize surgically induced trauma on retinal structures. With the assistance of intraoperative OCT, Itoh et al. found foveal-sparing ILM peeling avoiding alterations of the foveal architecture during surgery compared to patients that underwent ILM peeling including the foveal area [8]. Apart from myopic foveoschisis, foveal-sparing ILM peeling has resulted in a high macular hole closure rate and better postoperative visual acuity among patients with full-thickness macular holes compared to patients that underwent standard ILM peeling [9], [10].

Kelly and Wendel were the first to describe vitrectomy as a promising treatment option for surgical repair of macular holes [11]. Additional ILM peeling with gas or air tamponade has improved outcomes further [12], [13], [14]. Nevertheless, macular hole closure rates of large macular holes are still poor with classical ILM peeling techniques and could be increased with inverted ILM flap techniques [15], [16]. ILM flaps, representing membranes of biological tissue harvested from the retinal surface, form a scaffold for Müller cells to migrate into the macular hole [17], [18]. Peeling of the ILM is hypothesized to induce activation of Müller cells. ILM tissue, as used for ILM flaps, was reported to be rich in neurotrophic factors to stimulate migration of Müller cells for closure of macular holes and retina regeneration [17], [19]. A recently published case report of foveal-sparing ILM peeling in combination with transposition of a temporal ILM flap over the macular hole showed feasibility of this combination of two successful techniques and reported encouraging outcomes [20].

The aim of this study was to examine outcomes in a cohort of patients that underwent vitrectomy with foveal-sparing ILM peeling and transposition of an ILM flap over the macular hole with respect to macular hole closure, postsurgical visual acuity, occurrence of subfoveal atrophic areas, and central hyperreflective changes in the area of macular hole closure.

Methods

This retrospective study included consecutive patients scheduled for pars plana vitrectomy with foveal-sparing ILM peeling combined with ILM flap transposition over the macular hole for macular hole repair between October 2020 and December 2022 at the Department of Ophthalmology at the Hanusch Hospital in Vienna, Austria. All patients were operated by a single surgeon. Inclusion criteria for this study were (a) presence of a full-thickness macular hole before surgery, and (b) use of the surgical technique of vitrectomy with foveal-sparing ILM peeling combined with ILM flap transposition over the macular hole. All research and measurements followed the tenets of the Declaration of Helsinki and were approved by the local ethics committee of the city of Vienna (EK 22 – 164-VK). Clinical trials registration: NCT 05 897 671.

Surgery was performed with 23 G or 25 G pars plana vitrectomy and combined foveal-sparing ILM peeling with ILM flap transposition over the macular hole, as reported previously [20]. For ILM visualization, chromovitrectomy with a trypan blue and brilliant blue G-based dye (MembraneBlue-Dual, D. O. R. C., Zuidland, The Netherlands), or a trypan blue and blulife-based dye (Twin, Alchimia S. R.L, Ponte San Nicolo, Italy) was performed. Decision for dye was according to availability due to COVID 19 pandemic-related problems with supplies of medical devices. Foveal-sparing ILM peeling, using end-gripping forceps, was performed at the inferior, nasal, and superior rim of the full-thickness macular hole, using multiple curvilinear parafoveal peels [21] and leaving residual ILM tissue at the foveal rim. Furthermore, an ILM flap was prepared from the temporal ILM and positioned in an inverted fashion over the macular hole ([Fig. 1]). After successful peeling, fluid-air exchange was performed and correct ILM flap positioning over the macular hole was checked. All patients received gas tamponade (sulfur hexafluoride 20%, Alchimia S. R.L, Ponte San Nicolo, Italy) and were motivated for postoperative face-down positioning for 48 hours after surgery.

Fig. 1 Method of foveal-sparing ILM peeling with ILM flap transposition over the macular hole. In the temporal area, ILM is left for forming an ILM flap (1), while the residual ILM around the macular hole is peeling with multiple curvilinear ILM peels (2).

In the early phase of use of foveal-sparing ILM peeling with ILM flap transposition over the macular hole at our department, a broad area (reference length: one diameter of the optic disc) of residual ILM was left at the foveal rim with the intention to avoid any kind of surgically induced trauma at the ellipsoid zone (EZ) in this area. Due to a high risk of failure observed among these patients, the surgical technique was changed to leaving a narrow area of residual ILM at the foveal rim (reference length: one-third of the diameter of the optic disc as a maximal reference length for the distance of the edge of the peeled area to the foveal rim).

OCT imaging of the macula was performed with a stand-alone spectral-domain OCT (SD-OCT) device (Spectralis OCT, Heidelberg Engineering, Heidelberg, Germany) before surgery, and during follow-ups after surgery. Decision on successful macular hole closure in clinical routine resulted from postsurgically performed OCTs, and for study purposes, these decisions were based on added information on the type of macular hole closure according to Kang et al. [22]. Evaluation of occurrence of discontinuities of the EZ, subfoveal atrophy and hyperreflective changes, parameters with potential impact on outcomes according to the time point of evaluation, was only driven from follow-ups in the time period of 3 months (± 1 month) after surgery, to ensure comparability of data. Distance-corrected visual acuity (DCVA) was performed with decimal Snellen charts and only data assessed in the time period of 3 months (± 1 month) after surgery was used for analysis of outcomes. All patients received nonsteroidal and steroidal anti-inflammatory eye drops during the first month after surgery.

Combined phacoemulsification with implantation of an intraocular lens and 23 G or 25 G pars plana vitrectomy with foveal-sparing ILM peeling and ILM flap transposition over the macular hole was performed only in cases with coexisting vision affecting cataract.

In case both eyes underwent vitrectomy with foveal-sparing ILM peeling combined with ILM flap transposition over the macular hole, the eye first operated was chosen. Closure of the macular hole was defined as a type 1 or type 2 closure, according to Kang et al. [22].

Analysis of presurgical OCT images included measurement of the base and minimal macular hole diameter by the OCT slide with the largest size of macular hole diameters. Minimal macular hole diameter was measured in a parallel orientation to the base macular hole diameter. Postsurgical OCTs were evaluated for (a) the presence of macular hole closure and type of macular hole closure, (b) occurrence of discontinuities of the EZ, (c) occurrence of subfoveal atrophy, and (d) occurrence of hyperreflective changes in the area of macular hole closure.

Statistical analysis was performed in a descriptive fashion for mean values, standard deviation, median, and interquartile range (IQR). All data were tested for normal distribution using the Shapiro-Wilk test and the Kolmogorov-Smirnoff test. In case of a normal distribution, mean and standard deviation were calculated, otherwise, median, IQR, and range. A t-test was used for normally distributed data, otherwise, the Mann-Whitney U test was used, and in case of dichotomic data, Fisherʼs exact test was applied. Regression analysis was performed as a multiple regression analysis with stepwise elimination of factors with p > 0.05. A p < 0.05 was regarded as indicating significant differences between groups. Statistical analysis was performed using the software tool BiAS (Epsilon Verlag, Darmstadt, Germany).

Results

In total, 42 eyes of 42 patients were included in this study. Demographic data and baseline characteristics of macular holes are listed in [Table 1]. Foveal-sparing ILM peeling with ILM flap transposition over the macular hole was first used in a case with coexisting large confluent drusen ([Fig. 2]), as there were concerns of accelerating the conversion of drusen to atrophy due to surgical stress by a complete ILM peeling. Foveal-sparing ILM peeling with a broad area of residual ILM at the rim of the optic disc and ILM flap transposition over the macular hole worked well for this patient. Successful macular hole closure and improvement of his vision from 0.1 before surgery to 0.6 (Snellen) 3 months after surgery could be observed. Unfortunately, among the following three patients receiving foveal-sparing ILM peeling with ILM flap transposition with a broad residual ILM area, two patients failed to undergo postsurgical macular hole closure and needed re-surgery. This high risk for failure was the reason for adapting the technique to leaving only a narrow zone of residual ILM at the foveal rim with one-third of the diameter of the optic disc as a maximal reference length for the distance of the edge of the peeled area to the foveal rim.

Table 1 Demographic data of all patients included into the study.

Demographic data	(n = 42)
Broad/narrow foveal-sparing zone	4/32
Foveal-sparing ILM peeling only partial or not successful	6
Median age	69 years (IQR: 63 – 77, range: 18 – 83)
Female/male	27/15
R/L eye	18/24
Lens status (phakic/pseudophakic/ phacovitrectomy)	18/15/9
Median minimal macular hole diameter	298 µm (IQR: 176 – 444, range: 56 – 912)
Median basal macular hole diameter	676 µm (IQR: 525 – 932, range: 200 – 1815)

Fig. 2 Foveal-sparing ILM peeling with ILM flap transposition over the macular hole was first performed in a case with coexisting large confluent drusen, as there were concerns of accelerating conversion of drusen to atrophy due to surgical stress by a complete ILM peeling (upper panel: preoperative OCT, lower panel: OCT 3 months after surgery).

Foveal-sparing ILM peeling with ILM flap transposition over the macular hole with a narrow residual ILM zone could be successfully performed in 32 eyes of 32 patients. In the remaining 6 patients, foveal-sparing ILM peeling was unintentionally partly successful or not successful (one patient had ILM peeling until the superior foveal rim, one patient only foveal-sparing ILM peeling at the inferior foveal rim, a complete ILM peeling was performed in four patients, and ILM flap transposition was possible in five patients, while in one patient, the ILM flap was lost during surgery). Only the subgroup with successful foveal-sparing ILM peeling with ILM flap transposition over the macular hole with a narrow residual zone of ILM around the macular hole underwent a detailed analysis of the outcomes.

Macular hole closure could be achieved in all patients after the first surgery, 31 of them showed type 1 closure (97%) and one type 2 closure (3%; [Fig. 3]). Postsurgical central atrophy of the EZ could be detected in one patient (3%), a short discontinuity of the EZ in four patients (13%), and hyperreflective changes in the area of macular hole closure in four patients (13%; [Fig. 4]). Cataract progression among phakic patients occurred in eight patients after surgery.

Fig. 3 Types of macular hole closure (upper left panel: preoperative OCT, DVCA = 0.2, lower left panel: type 1 closure 3 months after surgery, DCVA = 0.5; upper right panel: preoperative OCT, DCVA = 0.16, lower right panel: type 2 closure 2 months after surgery, DCVA = 0.25).

Fig. 4 Postsurgical discontinuity of the EZ (lower left panel), and hyperreflective changes (lower right panel).

Visual acuity in the subgroup of patients with foveal-sparing ILM peeling with ILM flap transposition over the macular hole with a narrow residual ILM zone at the foveal rim could be evaluated in 31 patients, while in 1 patient, visual acuity 3 months after surgery was not available. DCVA after surgery improved in all patients, except in one patient with postsurgical cataract progression due to the gas tamponade. Median improvement of DCVA in the subgroup of patients with pseudophakic lens status 3 months after surgery (n = 19) was 4 lines (IQR: 3 to 6), while phakic patients (n = 12) improved 3.5 lines (IQR: 2 to 5).

Multiple regression analysis (with stepwise elimination of factors with p > 0.05, and the following predictors: preoperative DCVA, type of macular hole closure, lens status 3 months after surgery, minimal macular hole diameter, basal macular hole diameter, postsurgical central atrophy of the EZ, postsurgical EZ discontinuity, and central hyperreflective changes in the area of macular hole closure) showed preoperative DCVA to be a significant predictor for DCVA 3 months after surgery (p = 0.025; [Table 2]).

Table 2 Results of a multiple regression analysis examining potential predictors for DCVA 3 months after surgery. The table lists the examined potential predictors and the p values before elimination of predictors with a p > 0.05. After elimination of predictors with a p > 0.05 (beginning with the highest values), preoperative DCVA showed to be a significant predictor for DCVA 3 months after surgery (p = 0.025).

Multiple regression analysis	(before elimination of predictors with p > 0.05)
EZ discontinuity	p = 0.949
Basal macular hole diameter	p = 0.761
Minimal macular hole diameter	p = 0.601
Central atrophy of the EZ	p = 0.577
Preoperative DCVA	p = 0.501
Type of macular hole closure	p = 0.379
Lens status	p = 0.152
Central hyperreflective area	p = 0.101
Multiple regression analysis	(after stepwise elimination of predictors with p > 0.05)
Preoperative DCVA	p = 0.025

Discussion

Foveal-sparing ILM peeling, with a narrow zone of residual ILM around the hole, combined with ILM flap transposition over the macular hole achieved a high rate of macular hole closure (type 1 closure: 97%, type 2 closure: 3%) after the first surgery and an improvement of visual acuity in the majority of patients.

Major concerns using classical ILM peeling for macular hole repair are the potential negative effects of iatrogenic traction on retinal tissue at the rim of the macular hole, especially enlargement of the macular hole during surgery with potential damage of photoreceptors. In contrast to classical ILM peeling, foveal-sparing ILM peeling was reported to be less traumatic with respect to intrasurgical alterations of the retinal tissue among patients with myopic foveoschisis [8], a finding that could be hypothesized to be valid for surgical maneuvers during repair of full-thickness macular holes, too. Two groups of authors reported outcomes of foveal-sparing ILM peeling for repair of full-thickness macular holes, stating a high macular hole closure rate and better postoperative visual acuity compared to patients that underwent standard ILM peeling [9], [10].

The combination of foveal-sparing ILM peeling with ILM flap transposition over the macular hole is a novel approach, offering a combination of the benefits of foveal-sparing ILM peeling [9], [10], as mentioned above, with high rates of macular hole closure after ILM flap transposition. ILM flap transposition for macular hole repair was introduced by Michalewska et al. [15], [16] and represents a promising surgical method, with ILM flaps forming a scaffold for Müller cell migration into the macular hole and ILM flaps being rich in constituents for enhancing Müller cell migration into the macular hole [17], [18], [19]. Furthermore, in case of failure of macular hole closure after the first surgery, ILM flaps offer potential for high chances of macular hole closure in a second surgery with repositioning of the ILM flap over the macular hole and endotamponade.

Broad zones of residual ILM around the macular hole are associated with the risk of failure with respect to macular hole closure. It can be hypothesized that tangential traction of the residual ILM may have the potential to interfere with macular hole closure. Therefore, broad zones of residual ILM should be avoided when performing foveal-sparing ILM peeling. Nevertheless, foveal-sparing ILM peeling with ILM flap transposition over the macular hole can be safely performed in case of leaving a narrow zone of ILM around the macular hole.

Foveal-sparing ILM peeling with ILM flap transposition over the macular hole is associated with a trend of less occurrence of postsurgical central atrophy of the EZ compared to a historical group of patients that underwent a combination of classical ILM peeling with ILM flap transposition over the macular hole (historical group: 13%, foveal-sparing ILM peeling with ILM flap transposition and a narrow zone of residual ILM around the macular hole: 3%, p = 0.2, Fisherʼs exact test) [23]. This trend maybe indicates less intraoperative surgically induced trauma among patients that underwent foveal-sparing ILM peeling with ILM flap transposition over the macular hole and underlines the need for a prospective randomized trial comparing both surgical methods.

We did not perform a detailed analysis of improvement of visual acuity due to the fact that it is a routine procedure at our department to perform phacovitrectomy only in cases of coexistent vision affecting cataract. Nevertheless, gas tamponade, as applied in all patients examined in this study, has the potential to induce cataract progression in the postsurgical time period with potential vision-limiting effects.

Limitations of our study are the retrospective nature of the study and the relatively high number of phakic patients with possible negative effects of cataract progression on visual acuity data.

Concluding, the combination of foveal-sparing ILM peeling with a narrow residual ILM zone combined with ILM flap techniques has been shown to be a safe and effective surgical option for patients with full-thickness macular holes, resulting in a high macular hole closure rate with a low rate of occurrence of postsurgical central atrophy of the EZ, and improvement of visual acuity in the majority of patients.

Conclusion Box

Already known:

Foveal-sparing ILM peeling has resulted in a high macular hole closure rate and better postoperative visual acuity among patients with full-thickness macular holes compared to patients that underwent standard ILM peeling [9], [10].

Newly described:

The combination of foveal-sparing ILM peeling with a narrow residual ILM zone combined with ILM flap techniques has been shown to be a safe and effective surgical option for patients with full-thickness macular holes, resulting in a high macular hole closure rate with a low rate of occurrence of postsurgical central atrophy of the EZ, and improvement of visual acuity in the majority of patients.

Conflict of Interest

O. Findl is a scientific advisor for Carl Zeiss Meditec AG, Croma, and Johnson and Johnson. All authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Publication History

Received: 13 September 2023

Accepted: 16 November 2023

Article published online:
19 January 2024