Internal limiting membrane removal for traumatic macular holes

Objective: To evaluate a new surgical technique for traumatic macular holes and to provide epidemiological information for such holes. Materials and methods: Vitrectomy with internal limiting membrane (ILM) rem oval but without adjuvant use on 17 consecutive eves. Results: The hole closed in 100% of eyes. Vision improved greater than or e qual to2 Snellen lines in 16 eyes (94%). The macula showed additional traum a-related damage in 10 eyes (59%). No permanent complication related to ILM removal was seen. Among 4440 eyes with contusion trauma in the United Stat es Eye Injury Registry, the risk of macular hole formation is 9 times highe r in eyes closed than with open globe injury (1.4% versus 0.15%). Conclusions: Without introducing special risks, removal of the macular ILM appears to be a highly successful surgical option in improving vision in ey es with traumatic macular holes. The majority of eyes benefit from ILM remo val, even when additional traumatic macular pathology is present.