Foveal sparing internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling with ILM flap transposition over the macular hole combines the benefits of foveal sparing ILM peeling with ILM flap techniques.

Aim of this study is to retrospectively examine the rate of postsurgical macular hole closure, development of central atrophy in the foveal area, and improvement of best corrected distant visual acuity in a group of patients having undergone foveal sparing ILM peeling with ILM flap transposition for macular hole repair.

Idiopathic full thickness macular holes lead to central defects in the visual field and to deterioration of the visual acuity. Introduction of internal limiting membrane (ILM) Peeling techniques lead to significant increase in closure rates of the macular holes.

Foveal sparing ILM peeling represents a surgical technique for macular hole repair with less surgical trauma with high closure rates of the macular hole, compared to classic ILM Peeling [Ho et al. 2014, Murphy et al 2019]. The combination of foveal sparing ILM Peeling with the established ILM flap techniques [Michalewska et al 2010 und 2015] offers the potential of better improvement in postsurgical visual acuity with the high closure rates, due to ILM flaps.

Aim of this study is to retrospectively examine the rate of postsurgical macular hole closure, development of central atrophy in the foveal area, and improvement of best corrected distant visual acuity in a group of patients having undergone foveal sparing ILM peeling with ILM flap transposition for macular hole repair.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Vitrectomy with foveal sparing ILM peeling with ILM flap transposition in the time period from 1.10.2020 to 8.7.2022
• Age 18 and older
• Idiopathic full thickness macular hole as indication for surgery
• Full follow-up, including visual acuity testing and OCT preoperative, and 3 months after surgery.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Age <18 years

The participants will be selected by the clinical investigators in the Hanusch Hospital