Abstract
PURPOSE: To describe the postoperative outcomes of eyes with primary full-thickness macular holes (MH) greater than 650 μm. DESIGN: Retrospective, monocentric, consecutive case series. PARTICIPANTS: Patients with primary MH operated at Lariboisière Hospital, Paris, France. METHODS: Records of patients with MH with a minimum horizontal diameter greater than 650 μm that underwent primary surgery with internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling (complete or with inverted ILM flap) between January 2010 and January 2022 were reviewed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Postoperative MH closure rate and visual acuity. RESULTS: 74 eyes of 73 patients met the inclusion criteria. The mean minimum horizontal diameter was 777 ± 108 µm (650-1114). It ranged between 650 and 800 µm in 40 eyes (54%) and was ≧ 800 µm in 34 eyes (46%). The closure rate was 77% (57/74) after primary surgery and was significantly higher in MH between 650 and 800 µm, than in MH ≧ 800 µm (87.5% versus 64.7%, p = 0.02). In the 58/74 eyes in which conventional ILM peeling was performed, closure rate was 74.1% (43/58), significantly higher in MH ranging between 650 and 800 µm than in MH ≧ 800 µm (84.8% versus 60.0%, p = 0.03). In closed MH, 50/64 (78%) eyes achieved a VA gain ≥0.2 logMAR (3 lines), and 14 (21.9%) eyes a final BCVA ≥ 0.3 logMAR. CONCLUSION: MH surgery with conventional ILM peeling allowed closed MH ≧ 650 μm and < 800 μm with a success rate close to 85% that decreased in larger MH. A significant visual improvement was achieved after MH closure, even in MH ≧ 800 μm.