Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39922971›Full record

SynthesisEye (London, England)2025

Internal limiting membrane peel size and macular hole surgery outcome: a systematic review and individual participant data study of randomized controlled trials.

Boon Lin Teh, Yanda Li, Keean Nanji, Mark Phillips, Varun Chaudhary, David H Steel, ILM Peel Size Study Group

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Eye (London, England), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing 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

5 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Review
  5. 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

7 authors.

Boon Lin Teh *Sunderland Eye Infirmary, Sunderland, United Kingdom.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5455-0233
Yanda Li *Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.
Keean Nanji *McMaster University, Department of Surgery, Division of Ophthalmology, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
Mark PhillipsMcMaster University, Department of Health Research Methods, Hamilton, ON, Canada.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0923-261X
Varun ChaudharyMcMaster University, Department of Surgery, Division of Ophthalmology, Hamilton, ON, Canada.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9988-4146
David H SteelSunderland Eye Infirmary, Sunderland, United Kingdom. david.steel@newcastle.ac.uk.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8734-3089
ILM Peel Size Study Group

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThere is no consensus regarding the optimal internal limiting membrane (ILM) peel size during vitrectomy for idiopathic full thickness macular holes (iFTMH).

methodsA systematic review was performed to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing vitrectomy with ILM peeling of differing sizes in adults with iFTMH. Individual participant data was obtained including relevant baseline variables. The effect of different ILM peel sizes, divided into "small" (1-disc diameter [DD] in radius or less) and "large" (>1-DD in radius) were analysed on primary hole closure and postoperative visual acuity (VA) at 6 months. A subgroup analysis analysing for the effect of macular hole size on the same outcomes was also performed. Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations (GRADE) was used to assess the certainty of evidence.

resultsFive RCTs with 370 eyes were included. Primary closure was achieved in 74.7% in small peel group compared to 84.8% in large peel group (p = 0.016). Multilevel logistic regression showed that a peel radius of >1-DD probably improved hole closure slightly with odds ratio (OR) of 1.20 (95% CI: 1.11-1.31, p < 0.001) and a number needed to treat (NNT) to benefit of 31 (95% CI: 21-53). ILM peel size likely did not affect VA. The mean difference in postoperative VA was a -0.05 logMAR gain (2-3 ETDRS letters) (95% CI: -0.13 to 0.02, p = 0.155) in vision with a large ILM peel radius. The GRADE certainty of evidence was moderate for both outcomes. A significantly higher closure rate was found in the large peel group for iFTMH >400 microns with an OR of 1.24 (95% CI: 1.11-1.38, p < 0.001) and NNT to benefit of 21 (95% CI: 17-50), but not in holes <400 microns (OR 1.05 (95% CI: 0.93-1.18, p = 0.396)).

conclusionsPerforming ILM peel of more than 1-DD in radius likely improves closure rates for iFTMH although the effect size is relatively small. The effect is greater in holes >400 microns. ILM peel size probably has no significant effect on postoperative VA.

Indexed as

Basement MembraneEpiretinal MembraneRetinal PerforationsVitrectomyHumansRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicTreatment OutcomeVisual Acuity

Identifiers

PMID39922971
PMCPMC12044072

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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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.