Purpose: To investigate the long-term results of a modified technique for parafoveal multiple curvilinear internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling to preserve the epi-foveal ILM in myopic foveoschisis surgery.
Methods: Thirty-two consecutive patients (36 eyes) were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were divided into two groups according to the extent of ILM peeled: the fovea-sparing ILM peeling group (FS) (18 eyes) and total ILM peeling group (TP) (18 eyes). Patients were followed up for at least 12 months. The main outcome measures were best-corrected visual acuity changes, evolution of macular schisis and the factors associated with the development of a full-thickness macular hole (FTMH).
Results: FTMH developed in 1 of 18 eyes (5.6%) in the FS group and 3 of 18 eyes (16.7%) in the TP group (P = 0.28). Long-term follow-up showed visual improvement was better in the FS group than in the TP group (0.94 vs. 0.58 logMAR). Macular schisis disappeared in 13 of 18 eyes (72.2%) in the FS group, but disappeared in 7 of 18 eyes (38.9%) in the TP group (P = 0.04). Logistic regression analysis showed that only the preoperative outer lamellar macular hole (P = 0.016) was a significant risk factor for development of postoperative FTMH.
Conclusions: Fovea-sparing ILM peeling achieves a higher rate of macular schisis resolution over total peeling. A preoperative outer lamellar macular hole can be a risk factor for the development of a macular hole.