Does internal limiting membrane peeling in macular hole surgery improve reading vision?

Purpose: To document the effect of internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling in macular hole closure and reading vision.

Method: Fifty-four patients with idiopathic and traumatic macular hole underwent standard vitreous surgery and received either ILM peeling (n=25) or no ILM peeling (n=29). The hole closure, and Snellen acuity (distant and near) were recorded 12 weeks after surgery and statistically analysed.

Results: The macular hole closure rate was 96% (24 of 25) and 72.4% (21 of 29) with and without ILM peeling respectively (P = 0.028). Distant vision improvement of two or more lines was recorded in 64% (16 of 25) and 51.7% (15 of 29) eyes (P = 0.417) with and without ILM peeling respectively. Near vision improvement of two or more lines was seen in 68% (17 of 25) and 41.2% (12 of 29) eyes (P = 0.048) with and without ILM peeling respectively.

Conclusion: ILM peeling in macular hole surgery improves the macular hole closure rate and reading vision.