Human Amniotic Membrane Use in Macular Hole Surgery.

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Regenerative Medicine
• Surgical Techniques

Background:

• Human amniotic membrane (HAM) is increasingly used in ophthalmic surgery.
• Full-thickness macular hole (FTMH) repair is a complex procedure where HAM shows promise.
• Variability in surgical techniques and reporting may hinder outcome assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and evaluate the heterogeneity and reporting standards of HAM use in FTMH repair.
• To identify common practices and reporting gaps in studies utilizing HAM for FTMH surgery.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of English-language studies on HAM for FTMH repair.
• Searches conducted in PubMed, Embase, and Scopus up to July 24, 2025.
• Data extraction included surgical details, graft characteristics, tamponade, patient positioning, closure definitions, visual acuity, and complications.

Main Results:

• Sixty-three studies were included, employing diverse techniques like macular hole plugs and epiretinal patches.
• Significant reporting gaps were found regarding graft type (43%), size/shaping (30%), and orientation (46%).
• Inconsistencies were noted in tamponade use (33% multiple), patient positioning (41% omitted), and closure definition (70% undefined).

Conclusions:

• This review reveals substantial inconsistencies in the reporting of HAM-assisted FTMH surgeries.
• Standardized reporting protocols are crucial for comparing techniques and evaluating anatomic and functional outcomes.
• Wider adoption of HAM transplantation necessitates improved data consistency for clinical advancement.