Purpose: To compare the anatomical and functional outcome of adjuvant pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) procedures using the techniques of translocation of an internal limiting membrane (ILM) flap and transplantation of an inverted ILM flap for the treatment of chronic and/or refractory optic disc pit (ODP) maculopathy. Methods: In this prospective interventional case series study, 9 patients (9 eyes) with chronic and/or refractory ODP maculopathy underwent PPV with either translocation of an ILM flap or transplantation of an inverted ILM flap as adjuvant techniques along with gas tamponade. The anatomical success, rates of macular reattachment, and visual improvement were assessed. Results: The mean preoperative central retinal thickness (CRT) was 723.4 µm (range: 366–1,151). The mean postoperative CRT was 398.1 ± 212.2 µm (range: 210–758). An increased preoperative CRT was associated with a lower chance of postoperative reattachment of the macula (p = 0.047). The overall reattachment rate at the end of the follow-up period was 56% (n = 5). The mean preoperative visual acuity (logMAR unit [Snellen acuity]) was 0.48 (20/60) (range: 1.30 [20/400] to 0.10 [20/25]). The mean change in best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 0.48 ± 0.233 logMAR units (approx. 3 lines of visual improvement). Conclusions: ILM flap techniques are logical and straightforward approaches as adjuvants to PPV treatment of ODP maculopathy. They could be viable adjuvant treatments for improvement in BCVA and CRT in patients with ODP maculopathy.

Myopic traction maculopathy is a high myopia-related complication caused by several mechanisms with traction as a common pathway. Macular hole-related retinal detachment is considered to be the final stage of progressive foveoschisis. In this setting, release of all vitreous and epiretinal tractions is essential in order to achieve surgical success. Pars plana vitrectomy has proven useful in the treatment of myopic foveoschisis, with both good visual and anatomical results. However, the surgical technique for the treatment of macular hole-related retinal detachment is still a controversial issue: reoperations are common and the final visual prognosis is limited, especially in those cases with a pronounced posterior staphyloma. We must also bear in mind that a highly myopic eye has some characteristic traits that may complicate vitreoretinal surgery. In these cases, microincision vitrectomy surgery may offer some advantages compared to conventional vitrectomy.

Purpose: To compare the results of vitrectomy with internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling and inverted ILM flap for treating myopic macular hole without retinal detachment. Methods: Twenty-eight eyes of 28 patients undergoing vitrectomy with either ILM peeling (n = 16) or inverted ILM flap technique (n = 12) were included. Outcomes were myopic macular hole closure by optical coherence tomography and visual acuity at 6 months and at the end of follow-up. Results: Closure of myopic macular hole was achieved in 13 eyes (81.2%) of the ILM peeling group and in 11 eyes (91.7%) of the inverted ILM flap group. The median length of follow-up was 18 months in the peeling group and 10.3 in the inverted group. There were not statistically significant differences between restoration of the external limiting membrane, external limiting membrane and ellipsoid zone, and none of both layers between the two groups. The median best-corrected visual acuity (logarithm of minimal angle of resolution) at the end of follow-up was 0.25 (20/35 Snellen) in the peeling group and 0.4 (20/50) in the inverted group (P = 0.027). Conclusion: Both techniques were associated with high closure rates of myopic macular hole but the small sample size and the retrospective design prevents any claims of superiority of one technique over the other.

Combined vitrectomy and macular buckling is a safe and effective approach to achieve primary closure of MH in eyes with posterior staphyloma and associated foveoschisis. Eyes with a high axial length show a less favourable prognosis, which can be partially overcome by means of macular buckling.

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the safety and surgical results of femtosecond laser-assisted phacovitrectomy. Methods: A retrospective analysis of the medical records of patients over 50 years of age with vitreoretinal pathology, who had undergone pars plana vitrectomy using 23-gauge instruments and femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery and implantation of an intraocular lens, was performed at the Instituto de Microcirugía Ocular between June 2012 and September 2013. The diameter of the anterior capsulorhexis was set at 4.8 mm in cases where a gas tamponade was used and at 5 mm in all other cases. During the pars plana vitrectomy, posterior capsulotomy was performed on all eyes. An assessment was carried out of preoperative characteristics, surgical indications, postoperative results and complications. Only patients with a minimum of 3 months of follow-up were included. Results: A total of 21 eyes in 21 patients (71.4% women) were treated. Mean age (±SD) was 65.8 ± 6.4 years (range 53-76). The most common indication for surgery was epiretinal membrane (61.9%), followed by vitreous haemorrhage (23.8%) and macular hole (14.3%). The mean preoperative best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 0.81 ± 1.01 logMAR and the mean postoperative BCVA was 0.12 ± 0.19 logMAR (p = 0.003). 85.7% of patients improved their visual acuity. The remaining patients maintained their visual acuity. The only intraoperative complication related to femtosecond laser was 1 case of suction loss (4.8%). A patient with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment discovered during surgery required an additional circular scleral procedure and developed synechiaes in the early postoperative period (<1 month). There were no cases of subluxation of the intraocular lens. Mean follow-up was 6 months (range 3-14). Conclusions: The application of femtosecond laser in phacovitrectomy is a safe and effective technique that presents advantages compared to conventional techniques in cases of macular pathology and/or vitreous haemorrhage.