Use of autologous whole blood during internal limiting membrane peeling and macular hole surgery is protective for indocyanine green toxicity

Objective: To compare indocyanine green (ICG)-assisted internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling with and without autologous whole blood (WB) protection during macular hole repair surgery. Material and methods: We retrospectively reviewed 50 eyes with an idiopathic macular hole. Group 1 contained 22 eyes that underwent ILM peeling with WB protection and group 2 contained 28 eyes that underwent ILM peeling without WB. Anatomic and visual results were compared. Results: After surgery, macular hole closure was achieved in 96% of the group 1 eyes and in 93% of the group 2 eyes. The preoperative mean best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) 0.95 in group 1 and logMAR 0.89 in group 2 (p=.544). The postoperative mean BCVA was logMAR 0.57 in group 1 and logMAR 0.92 in group 2 (p=.017). Conclusion: Macular hole surgery protected with WB facilitates improved visual recovery in ICG-assisted ILM peeling.