AIM:To evaluate the efficacy of modified staining technique of internal limiting membrane(ILM)with indocyanine green(ICG)in surgeries for idiopathic macular hole(IMH).

METHODS:Twenty-seven eyes of 27 consecutive patients with idiopathic macular hole in our hospital from March 2013 to December 2014 were retrospectively analyzed, which had undergone 23 gauge pars plana vitrectomy, ILM peeling and intraocular gas tamponade. ILM was stained around the IMH with a mixture of 5mg/ml indocyanine green, 50% hypertonic glucose and moderate viscoelastic. The application efficacy was observed.

RESULTS:The ICG-staining ILM showed viridescent with good visibility, which helped recognizing and peeling ILM. The range of peeling was about 2PD×2PD. Macular hole was closed completely in 24 eyes(88.9%)postoperatively. Macular hole was closed partly in 3 eyes(11.1%)postoperatively, but shrank in diameter. It was worth mentioning that one eye among which showed macular hole closure completely after undergoing a second surgery with an expanding peeling 2mo after the first surgery. The visual acuity of all patients improved in 6～15mo follow-up.

CONCLUSION:The modified staining technique of ICG for ILM peeling surgery can reduce residual and diffusion of ICG in eyes, and reduce the toxicity of ICG to retina, exposed epithelia and optic nerve.