Autologous internal limiting membrane transplantation achieves anatomic closure and functional improvement in the treatment of large, persistent macular holes

To evaluate the clinical outcome of subretinal autologous internal limiting membrane (ILM) transplantation during pars-plana vitrectomy for persistent full-thickness macular hole (FTMH) repair.

Retrospective, consecutive case series of 13 eyes (13 patients) undergoing small-incision vitrectomy with ILM transplantation and air tamponade for large persistent FTMH after prior unsuccessful vitrectomy with posterior hyaloid detachment and ILM peeling.

For all eyes, high-definition spectral domain optical coherence tomography scans (SD-OCT Spectralis, Heidelberg Engineering GmbH, Germany) of the macula were routinely performed before surgery, 1 and 4 weeks after surgery, and at the final follow-up visit. Additionally, age, gender, axial length, macular hole diameter, biomicroscopic fundus evaluation and best‐corrected visual acuity (BCVA) at baseline, 1 and 4 weeks after surgery, and at the final follow-up visit were analyzed.

Anatomic closure was achieved in all 13 cases (100% success rate). Closure pattern was classified in accordance with to Rossi et al. (Graefe’s Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 258(12):2629–2638, 2020). Mean baseline BCVA logMAR was 0.93, mean postoperative BCVA logMAR was 0.66 with a mean postoperative follow-up period of 11.4 months. No re-opening occurred during the observation period.

Placing an autologous ILM-transplant in the subretinal space beneath the margin of the FTMH can support anatomic restauration and functional improvement in large, persistent FTMHs.