Scoping review of non-surgical treatment options for macular holes

Abstract

Macular holes (MH) are full-thickness retinal defects affecting central vision. While vitrectomy with inner limiting membrane (ILM) peel is the conventional MH treatment, non-surgical alternatives are gaining interest to mitigate surgical risks. This study conducted a comprehensive literature review and analysis of non-surgical MH management. A systematic literature search was conducted on PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library from January 1, 1973, to September 13, 2023. Treatments included laser therapy, carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (CAIs), non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs), steroids (topical, subtenons, peribulbar, intravitreal), intravitreal gas, anti-vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF) and ocriplasmin injections. Data extraction covered study details, patient characteristics, MH features, treatment outcomes, and recurrence rates. The initial search yielded 3,352 articles, refined to 83 articles which met inclusion criteria following screening. Overall reported anatomical closure rates were 36% with laser photocoagulation, 37% with intravitreal ocriplasmin, 55% with intravitreal gas. Closures were more frequently observed with topical NSAIDs (79%), steroids (84%) and CAIs (73%). Closures were more often observed in patients with smaller MH and in the presence of cystic macular oedema. Although non-surgical MH management approaches show potential for conservative therapy, evidence is limited to support routine use. Stage 1 and traumatic MH may benefit from a short period of observation but the gold standard approach for full-thickness MH remains to be vitrectomy with ILM peel.