Outcome of ICG-assisted ILM peel in macular hole surgery

To investigate whether indocyanine green (ICG) staining of the internal limiting membrane (ILM) improves surgical outcome.

A total of 34 patients were identified who underwent macular hole surgery with ILM peeling augmented with ICG. These were matched retrospectively with 34 patients who underwent macular hole surgery without the use of ICG. Closure rates from primary and secondary procedures were compared, as were changes in Snellen and Logmar visual acuity.

There was no significant difference between the two groups with reference to demographic features of age, sex, staging of the macular holes, and the proportion subsequently undergoing cataract surgery. The mean follow-up period was 7.7 months in the ICG group and 6.3 months in the non-ICG group. Closure rates from primary surgery were 91.2% in the ICG group and 73.5% in the non-ICG group (P = 0.056), whereas overall closure rates following further surgery were similar in both groups (94.1 and 91.2%, respectively). Logmar visual improvement above baseline was achieved in 53% of the non-ICG group compared to 82% of the ICG group (P = 0.01). Where primary hole closure occurred, there was no statistically significant difference in visual outcome between the two groups.

ICG-assisted ILM peel in macular hole surgery is associated with a higher closure rate following a single surgical procedure. This difference was found to approach statistical significance (P = 0.056). Overall visual improvement was greater in the ICG group (P = 0.01); however, this reflected the higher closure rates. Visual outcomes between the two groups were comparable where primary hole closure occurred.