title: Fovea sparing internal limiting membrane peeling using multiple parafoveal curvilinear peels for myopic foveoschisis: technique and outcome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To introduce a modified surgical technique, the "parafoveal multiple curvelinear internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling", to preserve epi-foveal ILM in myopic foveoschisis surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Consecutive patients with myopic foveoschisis were enrolled in the present prospective interventional case series. The surgeries were performed using transconjunctival 23-gauge system. The macular area was divided into quadrants. ILM was peeled off in a curvilinear manner centered around the site that was away from the central fovea in each quadrant. Shearing forces were used to control the direction to keep the peeling away from central fovea. ILM at central fovea of about 500 to 1000 μm was preserved by this technique.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This technique was performed in 20 eyes of 20 consecutive patients. Epi-foveal ILM was successfully preserved in all cases using the technique. Patients were followed up for more than 12 months. The mean postoperative logMAR visual acuity improved from 1.67 ± 0.65 preoperatively to 1.15 ± 0.49 (P = 0.015; paired t-test). Postoperative OCT examinations showed that full-thickness macular holes (MHs) did not developed in any case. Central fovea thickness decreased from 910 ± 261 μm preoperatively to 125 ± 85 postoperatively (P = 0.001; paired t-test).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fovea sparing ILM peeling using multiple parafoveal curvilinear peels prevents the development of postoperative full-thickness MHs in eyes with myopic foveoschisis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China.
authors.forename: Haiying
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China.
authors.forename: Qi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China. 13916917206@163.com.
authors.forename: Peiquan
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001485:Basement Membrane / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005584:Fovea Centralis / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D047728:Myopia, Degenerative / Q000601:surgery*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012167:Retinal Perforations / Q000601:surgery; D041441:Retinoschisis / Q000601:surgery*; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D014792:Visual Acuity; D014821:Vitrectomy / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Fovea; Internal limiting membrane; Internal limiting membrane peeling; Myopic foveoschisis; Surgical technique; Vitrectomy