ILM Peeling a Vital Intervention for Many Vitreoretinal Disorders

The following is an excerpt from the Practical Retina column in the March/April issue of OSLI Retina.

The internal limiting membrane (ILM) is the structural interface between the vitreous and retina. As the basement membrane of retinal Müller cells, it serves as a protective barrier and provides biomechanical strength for the central retina. It also acts as a scaffold for cellular proliferation for myofibroblasts, fibrocytes, and retinal pigmented epithelial cells. ILM removal ensures separation of the posterior hyaloid from the macular surface, which can relieve macular traction and prevent postoperative epiretinal membrane formation. Thus, vitrectomy with ILM peeling has become an increasingly utilized and vital component in surgical intervention for various vitreoretinal disorders. Get the whole story