title: Macular Hole Closure With Internal Limiting Membrane Abrasion Technique.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Internal limiting membrane (ILM) abrasion is an alternative surgical technique for successful full-thickness macular hole (MH) repair.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To study the effects of ILM abrasion as an alternative method of MH repair.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective consecutive case series from January 2006 to December 2008. Demographic data and preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative examination records of all patients were reviewed for patients who underwent ILM abrasion with a diamond-dusted membrane scraper during vitrectomy for MH repair. A total of 100 eyes underwent ILM abrasion as an alternative to traditional ILM peeling.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rate of MH closure and visual acuity (VA) outcomes at 3 months after surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Macular hole closure was achieved with a single surgical procedure in 94 of 100 eyes (94.0%; 95% CI, 87.4%-97.8%). Among all patients, the median preoperative VA was 20/100 (range, 20/30 to hand motions; 25th quartile, 20/60; and 75th quartile, 20/160), and the median postoperative VA at 3 months after surgery was 20/60 (range, 20/20 to hand motions; 25th quartile, 20/40; and 75th quartile, 20/100). Among all patients with stage 2 MHs, 30 of 38 patients (78.9%) had at least 2 lines of VA gain: 15 of 23 (65.2%) were phakic, and 15 of 15 (100%) were pseudophakic. Four of 38 patients (10.5%) with stage 2 MHs had at least 2 lines of VA loss, and all were phakic. Among all patients with stage 3 or 4 MHs, 42 of 62 (67.7%) had at least 2 lines of VA gain, of which 30 of 38 (78.9%) were phakic and 22 of 24 (91.7%) were pseudophakic. Six of 62 patients (9.7%) with stage 3 or 4 MHs had at least 2 lines of VA loss: 4 were phakic, and 2 were pseudophakic. In total, 35.0% (95% CI, 25.7%-44.3%) of patients achieved 20/40 vision or better, and 52.0% (95% CI, 42.2%-61.8%) of patients achieved 20/50 vision or better.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Abrasion of the ILM with a diamond-dusted membrane scraper at the time of vitrectomy achieves high rates of MH closure. This technique avoids complete removal of the retinal ILM basement membrane and subjacent tissues and appears to provide MH closure rates similar to those of traditional ILM peeling.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City2Omics Laboratory, University of Iowa, Iowa City.
authors.forename: Vinit B
authors.initials: VB
authors.lastname: Mahajan
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City.
authors.forename: Eric K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Chin
authors.affiliation: Saint Louis University Eye Institute, St Louis, Missouri.
authors.forename: Ryan M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Tarantola
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City.
authors.forename: David R P
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Almeida
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City.
authors.forename: Riz
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Somani
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City.
authors.forename: H Culver
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Boldt
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City.
authors.forename: James C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Folk
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City.
authors.forename: Karen M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Gehrs
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City.
authors.forename: Stephen R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Russell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001485:Basement Membrane / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D058450:Endotamponade; D005260:Female; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013508:Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D016684:Prone Position; D012167:Retinal Perforations / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013459:Sulfur Hexafluoride / Q000008:administration & dosage; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D014792:Visual Acuity; D014821:Vitrectomy
chemical_list: D005466:Fluorocarbons; C042852:perflutren; D013459:Sulfur Hexafluoride