Foveola nonpeeling internal limiting membrane surgery to prevent inner retinal damages in early stage 2 idiopathic macula hole

Purpose The purpose of this study was to investigate and present the results of a new vitrectomy technique to preserve the foveolar internal limiting membrane (ILM) during ILM peeling in early stage 2 macular holes (MH). Methods The medical records of 28 consecutive patients (28 eyes) with early stage 2 MH were retrospectively reviewed and randomly divided into two groups by the extent of ILM peeing. Group 1: foveolar ILM nonpeeling group (14 eyes), and group 2: total peeling of foveal ILM group (14 eyes). A donut-shaped ILMwas peeled off, leaving a 400-mu m-diameter ILM over foveola in group 1. Results Smooth and symmetric umbo foveolar contour was restored without inner retinal dimpling in all eyes in group 1, but not in group 2. The final vision was better in group 1 (P = 0.011). All eyes in group 1 (100 %) and seven of 14 eyes in group 2 (50 %) regained the inner segment/outer segment (IS/OS) line. Restoration of the umbo light reflex was found in 12 of 14 eyes in group 1 (86 %) but none in group 2 (0 %). Conclusions Nonpeeling of the foveolar ILM in early stage 2 idiopathic MH surgery prevented inner retinal damages, restored umbo light reflex, achieved better foveolar microstructures, and led to better final visual acuity.