Topical Drop Therapy for Failing Macular Holes after Internal Limiting Flap Surgery

Vitrectomy with an internal limiting membrane (ILM) flap has been used in the repair of macular holes (MH). Topical drops have been attempted for smaller MHs with limited data. This study aims to demonstrate the effectiveness of a topical drop regimen in failing MHs after ILM flap surgery.

Review of 3 eyes with open MHs after vitrectomy with ILM flap. Preoperative visual acuity, MH size, tamponade used during surgery, time-to-hole closure, and final visual acuity were collected.

Average MH size among all eyes was 743.3µm (+ 150.4). At the postoperative visit, the MHs were open. All eyes were started on topical steroid, nonsteroidal, and carbonic anhydrase inhibitor drops twice daily for a mean time of 33 days (+ 11 days). There was successful closure of the MHs with topical therapy in all cases.

Topical therapy may aid in post-operative MH closure.