MACULAR HOLE CLOSURE OVER RESIDUAL SUBRETINAL FLUID BY AN INVERTED INTERNAL LIMITING MEMBRANE FLAP TECHNIQUE IN PATIENTS WITH MACULAR HOLE RETINAL DETACHMENT IN HIGH MYOPIA.

PURPOSE: To describe the closure of a macular hole over residual subretinal fluid in patients with macular hole retinal detachment in high myopia who had been treated using an inverted internal limiting membrane flap technique.

METHODS

Three patients with macular hole retinal detachment in high myopia underwent pars plana vitrectomy using the inverted internal limiting membrane flap technique. One patient received a silicone oil injection, and the other two patients received a long-acting gas injection at the end of the surgery. After surgery, spectral domain ocular coherence tomography examination was performed.

RESULTS

In the patient with the silicone oil injection, spectral domain optical coherence tomography revealed that the macular hole was sealed with an inverted internal limiting membrane flap in the presence of subretinal fluid 1 day after surgery. The inner retinal layers gradually regained a more physiologic configuration over the residual subretinal fluid. In all patients, macular holes were completely closed over the subretinal fluid, which was gradually absorbed.

CONCLUSION

Using the inverted internal limiting membrane flap technique, macular holes were closed over residual subretinal fluid in patients with macular hole retinal detachment. The results indicate that reattachment of the retina may not be necessary for closure of macular holes.