Abstract
PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling on the repair of proliferative vitreoretinopathy grade B (PVR B) primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD). METHODS: Thirteen consecutive eyes that underwent pars plana vitrectomy (ppV) with ILM peeling for PVR B (group 1) were matched to a cohort of 13 eyes with primary RRD without PVR and without ILM peeling (group 2). Minimum follow-up was 6 months, and all eyes were operated by the same surgeon. Preoperative characteristics (age, lens status, macula-ON/OFF) were similar in the two groups (p ≥ 0.113). RESULTS: At the end of follow-up, reattachment rates were comparable, with 92.3% in group 1 and 92.3% in group 2 (p = 1.0). Postoperative epiretinal membrane formation based on OCT was significantly reduced by ILM peeling (p = 0.04). Visual acuity was also comparable (group 1: 0.26 ± 0.29, group 2: 0.15 ± 0.17 logMAR; p = 0.125). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that intraoperative removal of the ILM in PVR B RRD can improve functional and morphological outcomes to levels obtained in uncomplicated RRD without PVR. ILM peeling does not appear to negatively affect postoperative visual acuity. Studies with longer follow-up are warranted to gauge a potential positive impact.