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Biocompatible film promotes retinal break repair, macular hole closure
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VANCOUVER, British Columbia — A new technique involving a novel biocompatible film can resolve interruption of retinal tissue with a regenerative process, not with a destructive action, and promote retinal break repair and macular hole closure, a speaker said here.
Stanislao Rizzo, MD, and colleagues developed the novel technique and biocompatible film. Rizzo presented postoperative data for seven patients with retinal detachment and 12 patients with persistent macular hole who underwent pars plana vitrectomy and implantation of the biocompatible film in the area of the macular hole or retinal break.
“For the first time we have resolved an interruption of the retinal tissue with a regenerative process,” Rizzo said at the American Society of Retina Specialists annual meeting.
No laser retinopexy was used for retinal breaks and silicone oil was used in the retinal detachment patients. The oil was removed after 3 months in all cases, he said.
Successful retinal reattachment and macular hole closure was achieved in all 19 eyes that underwent the procedure. In the 12 patients with macular hole, the mean preoperative best corrected visual acuity improved from 20/800 to 20/70 at a mean follow-up of 4.6 months. No postoperative complications were reported.
In the final four macular hole procedures that were performed, Rizzo said only air was used with no gas tamponade.
“Unlike most other surgical techniques, we obtained very encouraging results, not only anatomical, but most of all functional. And all this was safe and simple for everyone,” he said. – by Robert Linnehan
Reference: Rizzo S. A novel biocompatible film to promote retinal break repair and macular hole closure. Presented at: American Society of Retina Specialists annual meeting; July 20-25, 2018; Vancouver, British Columbia.
Disclosure: Rizzo reports no relevant financial disclosures.