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Study shows better results, cost-effectiveness of ILM peeling in macular hole surgery
 Noemi Lois |
LONDON — Results of a large study conducted at nine centers in England and the Republic of Ireland support internal limiting membrane peeling as the treatment of choice for patients with stage 2 or stage 3 full-thickness macular hole.
The Full Thickness Macular Hole and Internal Limiting Membrane Peeling Study prospectively compared visual function, hole closure, complications and re-operations in two groups of patients operated for stage 2 or stage 3 macular hole with or without internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling. A total of 141 patients were randomized in the two groups.
"Not a statistically but a clinically significant difference was found in favor of peeling, as well as a higher anatomical closure rate and lower re-operation rate," Noemi Lois, MD, said at the Euretina meeting here.
Closure rate at 1 month was 84% in the peeling group compared with 48% in the non-peeling group. There were eight re-operations in the peeling group compared with 31 in the non-peeling group.
"Taking these data into account, we could also conclude that ILM peeling is also a highly cost-effective procedure. The total costs were considerably higher at 6 months in the no ILM peeling group, mainly due to the high number of re-operations," Dr. Lois said.
- Disclosure: Dr. Lois has no relevant financial disclosures.