Analysis of Retinal Ganglion Cell Complex Thickness After Brilliant Blue-Assisted Vitrectomy for Idiopathic Macular Holes

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate retinal ganglion cell complex (GCC) thickness changes in eyes undergoing Brilliant Blue-assisted macular hole surgery (MHS) using Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography (FD-OCT). Materials and Methods: This is a prospective, comparative, and observational case series of 70 eyes in 70 consecutive patients with idiopathic macular holes who underwent vitrectomy between December 2010 and October 2011. The study group consisted of 44 eyes in 44 patients, who underwent MHS with Brilliant Blue-assisted internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling; 26 eyes in 26 patients, who underwent MHS without ILM peeling, constituted the control group. In both groups, complete ophthalmologic examinations and quantitative analysis of the GCC and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thicknesses were performed before and after the procedures using OCT. The findings from both groups were compared. Results: Six months after surgery, the rate of closure of macular holes evaluated by OCT was 80.7% in the control group and 97% in the study group. There was no significant difference between preoperative and postoperative GCC and RNFL thickness values in both groups. Conclusions: No significant decrease was observed in the thickness values of the retinal GCC and RNFL after Brilliant Blue-assisted ILM peeling for MHS. Therefore, this surgical procedure can be performed safely for the treatment of macular holes.