Primary silicone oil tamponade without retinopexy in highly myopic eyes with central macular hole detachments.

Background: In highly myopic macular hole central retinal detachments, the ideal treatment is still under discussion. In our study, we analyzed anatomic and functional outcomes for eyes undergoing vitrectomy with primary silicone oil filling without central photocoagulation, using the oil as inductor and scaffold for glial closure of the causative macular hole.

Methods: Eleven patients with central macular hole detachments and myopia ranging from -10.0 to -23.0 diopters underwent vitrectomy and primary silicone oil filling without laser photocoagulation of the central retina. After at least 3 months (mean +/- SD, 5.2 +/- 2.0 months), the oil was removed from all eyes.

Results: In all eyes, the retina was attached by the first postoperative day and remained attached after silicone oil removal until the end of the follow-up period. No severe intra- or postoperative complications were noted. Visual acuity increased in 7 (63.6%) of 11 eyes, remained unchanged in 3 (27.3%) of 11, and deteriorated in 1 (9.1%) of 11.

Conclusion: Vitrectomy plus primary silicone oil tamponade without endophotocoagulation is an effective method to treat central macular hole detachments in highly myopic eyes.