Background and objectives: To evaluate the visual and anatomical outcomes of surgery for retinal detachment due to macular hole in highly myopic eyes with pronounced posterior staphyloma.
Patients and methods: Data for all patients with high myopia who underwent surgery for retinal detachment resulting from macular hole from 1993 to 2002 in one hospital were evaluated. Patient characteristics, best-corrected visual acuity preoperatively and at last examination, surgical technique, anatomical success, and follow-up period were extracted and analyzed statistically.
Results: Twenty-six of the 27 patients (28 eyes) were female (96%) with a mean age of 59.8 years; mean follow-up was 17.3 months. Mean axial length was 29.1+/-2.74 mm; mean myopia was -16.4 +/- 3.1 diopters. Marked posterior staphyloma was detected in 71%. Seven eyes had undergone failed scleral buckling as the primary procedure; intravitreal SF6 injection was the primary procedure in 12 eyes. Twenty-three eyes underwent deep vitrectomy with use of high viscosity silicone oil. Overall anatomical success was achieved in 92.9% (26 of 28 eyes); 78.6% had visual improvement.
Conclusions: Vitreous surgery combined with other necessary adjunct procedures such as membrane peeling and use of retinal tamponade, as a primary or a secondary procedure, seems to be successful in achieving retinal reattachment in eyes with macular hole and posterior staphyloma.