Morphology of Peeled Internal Limiting Membrane in Macular Hole Surgery.

PURPOSE: The aim of this work was to describe the ultrastructure and behavior of peeled internal limiting membrane (ILM) in macular hole (MH) surgery. METHODS: Seven patients with MH were included, and vitrectomy with ILM peeling was performed in all patients. The ILM inverted flap technique was used. Two other flaps of ILM of the same patient were collected and studied using light and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). ILM cell type, distribution, and morphology were analyzed, and the proliferation or fusion potential of the ILM interface was evaluated. RESULTS: ILM vitreous sides in apposition showed signs of proliferative fibrotic activity, producing a basal membrane that merges ILM sides. CONCLUSIONS: Epiretinal cells in ILM show proliferative capacity, with formation of microfibrils between adjacent sides of the ILM, which may explain adherence of ILM flaps to the hole border, contributing to closure of the hole in MH surgery. This trail is registered with NCT03799575.

Internal retinal layer thickness and macular migration after internal limiting membrane peeling in macular hole surgery.

PURPOSE: To provide a spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT)-based analysis of retinal layers thickness and nasal displacement of closed macular hole after internal limiting membrane peeling in macular hole surgery. METHODS: In this nonrandomized prospective interventional study, 36 eyes of 32 patients were subjected to pars plana vitrectomy and 3.5 mm diameter internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling for idiopathic macular hole (IMH). Nasal and temporal internal retinal layer thickness were assessed with SD-OCT. Each scan included optic disc border so that distance between optic disc border and fovea were measured. RESULTS: Thirty-six eyes had a successful surgery with macular hole closure. Total nasal retinal thickening (p<0.001) and total temporal retinal thinning (p<0.0001) were observed. Outer retinal layers increased thickness after surgery (nasal p<0.05 and temporal p<0.01). Middle part of inner retinal layers (mIRL) had nasal thickening (p<0.001) and temporal thinning (p<0.05). The mIRL was obtained by deducting ganglion cell layer (GCL) and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness from overall thickness of the inner retinal layer. Papillofoveal distance was shorter after ILM peeling in macular hole surgery (3,651 ± 323 µm preoperatively and 3,361 ± 279 µm at 6 months; p<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Internal limiting membrane peel is associated with important alteration in inner retinal layer architecture, with thickening of mIRL and shortening of papillofoveal distance. These factors may contribute to recovery of disrupted foveal photoreceptor and vision improvement after IMH closure.

Management of dislocated intraocular lenses with iris suture.

PURPOSE: Subluxated or malpositioned intraocular lenses (IOLs) and inadequate capsular support is a challenge for every ophthalmic surgeon. Iris suture of an IOL seems to be an easy technique for the management of dislocated 3-piece IOL, allowing the IOL to be placed behind the iris, far from the trabecular meshwork and corneal endothelium. The purpose of this study is to assess the results of pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) and iris suture of dislocated 3-piece acrylic IOLs. METHODS: In this retrospective, nonrandomized, interventional case consecutive study, of a total of 103 dislocated IOLs, 36 eyes were considered for analysis. All 36 eyes had subluxated or totally luxated 3-piece IOL and underwent iris suture at the Ophthalmology Department of Santa Maria Hospital-North Lisbon Hospital Center, Portugal, from January 2011 until November 2015. All patients underwent 3-port 23-G PPV. The optic zone of the dislocated IOL was placed anterior to the iris with the haptics behind, in the posterior chamber. Haptics were sutured to iris followed by placement of the optics behind iris plane. Postoperative measures included best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), IOL position, intraocular pressure, pigment dispersion, clinical signs of endothelial cell loss, and development of macular edema. RESULTS: A total of 36 eyes of 36 patients were included. All underwent successful iris fixation of dislocated 3-piece IOL. Mean overall follow-up was 15.9 months (range 3-58 months). At presentation, 16 eyes (44.4%) had a luxated IOL and 20 eyes (55.6%) a subluxated IOL. As underlying cause, 17 eyes (47.2%) had a history of complicated cataract surgery, 5 eyes (13.9%) had a traumatic dislocation of the IOL, and 6 eyes (16.7%) had a previous vitreoretinal surgery. A total of 8 eyes (22.2%) had late spontaneous IOL dislocation after uneventful cataract surgery. The mean preoperative BCVA was 1.09 ± 0.70 logarithm of the minimal angle of resolution (logMAR) units and mean postoperative BCVA was 0.48 ± 0.58 of logMAR units. The mean visual acuity improvement was 4.08 ± 5.33 lines on the logMAR scale. In this study, every IOL was stable at the last follow-up. As late complications, macular edema occurred in 1 patient and retinal detachment occurred in 2 patients. There were no cases of endophthalmitis. CONCLUSIONS: Iris suture fixation of subluxated IOL is a good treatment option for eyes with dislocated IOLs, leading to long-term stability of the IOL. The advantage of this procedure is using the same IOL in a closed eye surgery. No astigmatic difference is expected as no large corneal incision is needed.