VITRECTOMY WITH INTERNAL LIMITING MEMBRANE PEELING AND AIR TAMPONADE FOR MYOPIC FOVEOSCHISIS

Purpose: To evaluate the functional and anatomical outcomes of 23-gauge or 25-gauge pars plana vitrectomy with internal limiting membrane peeling and air tamponade for the treatment of myopic foveoschisis. Methods: Retrospective, noncomparative, interventional case series. The records of 29 patients (32 eyes), with myopic foveoschisis who were treated by 23-gauge or 25-gauge 3-port pars plana vitrectomy with internal limiting membrane peeling and air tamponade, were reviewed. At each visit, a complete ophthalmic examination, intraocular pressure, best-corrected visual acuity, and central foveal thickness measured using optical coherence tomography were assessed. Results: Twenty-five eyes of 23 patients (M:F = 4:19) matched the inclusion criteria, whereas 7 eyes of 6 patients were excluded. The mean logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution best-corrected visual acuity (Snellen equivalent) was 0.62 (20/80) (SE: 0.061), and the mean preoperative central foveal thickness was 619.5 µ m (SE: 16.38) at baseline. Visual acuity significantly improved of 5 Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study letters (45 letters) at the 1-month follow-up ( P < 0.001), 2 lines (50 Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study letters) at the 6-month follow-up ( P < 0.001), and it reached 55 Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study letters at the 1-year follow-up visit ( P < 0.001). Central foveal thickness decreased to 292.4 µ m (SE: 15.93), to 227.3 µ m (SE: 14.05), and to 208.8 µ m (SE: 12.86), respectively, at the 1-, 6-, and 12-month follow-ups (for each P < 0.001). There were no differences in best-corrected visual acuity or central foveal thickness changes between the foveal detachment group and the nonfoveal detachment group ( P > 0.05). Conclusion: Small-gauge vitrectomy with internal limiting membrane peeling and air tamponade results in favorable anatomical and functional outcomes for patients affected by myopic macular foveoschisis.