Temporary silicone oil tamponade for persistent macular holes: a multicentre study

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Retinal Surgery
• Macular Diseases

Background:

• Persistent full-thickness macular holes (FTMHs) after primary surgery pose a significant clinical challenge.
• Various surgical interventions have been explored to address this condition.
• Evaluating the efficacy of temporary silicone oil tamponade for persistent FTMHs is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the anatomical and functional outcomes of temporary silicone oil tamponade in patients with persistent FTMHs.
• To analyze the success rates and visual acuity changes in a larger cohort.
• To identify factors influencing treatment success.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective multicenter study included 102 patients with persistent FTMHs.
• Patients underwent vitrectomy with inner limiting membrane peeling and gas tamponade, followed by temporary silicone oil tamponade.
• Optical coherence tomography assessed FTMH morphology, minimum linear diameter (MLD), closure rate, and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA).

Main Results:

• Silicone oil tamponade achieved a high anatomical closure rate of 92.2%.
• Median best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) significantly improved from 1.00 to 0.70 logMAR.
• Eyes with unsuccessful treatment had a significantly larger preoperative minimum linear diameter (MLD) compared to successful cases.

Conclusions:

• Temporary silicone oil tamponade is an effective treatment for persistent FTMHs, yielding high anatomical success and visual acuity improvement.
• The success rate of silicone oil tamponade is inversely related to the size of the FTMH.
• This approach offers a viable option without requiring retinal manipulation or specific postoperative positioning.