Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39400983›Full record

ArticleActa ophthalmologica2025

Vitrectomy in Small idiopathic MAcuLar hoLe (SMALL) study: Internal limiting membrane peeling versus no peeling.

Paola Marolo, Paolo Caselgrandi, Matteo Fallico, Guglielmo Parisi, Enrico Borrelli, Federico Ricardi, Francesco Gelormini, Luca Ceroni, Michele Reibaldi, SMALL Study Group

Abstract readMulticenter StudyComparative Study
In one paragraph

Article in Acta ophthalmologica, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Current Topics in OCT Applications in Vitreoretinal Surgery.Bioengineering (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025
    Review
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Paola MaroloDepartment of Surgical Sciences, Section of Ophthalmology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8881-0926
Paolo CaselgrandiDepartment of Surgical Sciences, Section of Ophthalmology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7153-1074
Matteo FallicoDepartment of Ophthalmology, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2639-1321
Guglielmo ParisiDepartment of Surgical Sciences, Section of Ophthalmology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
Enrico BorrelliDepartment of Surgical Sciences, Section of Ophthalmology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2815-5031
Federico RicardiDepartment of Surgical Sciences, Section of Ophthalmology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
Francesco GelorminiDepartment of Surgical Sciences, Section of Ophthalmology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
Luca CeroniUniversity of Turin, Turin, Italy.
Michele ReibaldiDepartment of Surgical Sciences, Section of Ophthalmology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1368-6729
SMALL Study Group

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeTo compare vitrectomy with and without internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling in small idiopathic macular holes.

methodsRetrospective multicentre study including consecutive eyes with ≤250 μm idiopathic macular hole treated with vitrectomy. The primary outcome was hole closure rate. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) change, closure patterns on optical coherence tomography, rates of external limiting membrane (ELM) and ellipsoid zone (EZ) recovery, and rate of complications were also investigated.

resultsIn total, 693 eyes were included. Hole closure rate was 98% in the peeling and 85% in the no-peeling group (p < 0.001). At 12 months, mean BCVA change was 0.38 ± 0.22 logMAR in the peeling and 0.45 ± 0.21 logMAR in the no-peeling group (p = 0.02); 66% versus 80% of eyes had a U-shaped morphology, respectively; EZ recovery rate was 75% and 93%, respectively (p = 0.02). In the no-peeling group, eyes with a vitreomacular traction (VMT) showed a 96% closure rate, comparable to the peeling group (p = 0.40). The incidence of adverse events was similar except for dissociated optic nerve fibre layer (55% in the peeling vs. 9% in the no-peeling group, p < 0.001).

conclusionsIn small idiopathic macular holes, ILM peeling provides a higher closure rate compared to no-peeling; however, if a VMT is present closure rates are comparable. In closed macular holes, the no-peeling technique provides advantages in terms of visual outcome and anatomical recovery.

Indexed as

Basement MembraneRetinal PerforationsVisual AcuityVitrectomyAgedFemaleFollow-Up StudiesHumansMaleMiddle AgedRetrospective StudiesTomography, Optical CoherenceTreatment Outcomeclosure ratemacular holeno‐peelingoptical coherence tomographypeelingsmallvisual acuityvitrectomyvitreomacular traction

Identifiers

PMID39400983
PMCPMC11986401

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.