AIM: To observe the clinical effects of different methods of internal limiting membrane peeling in vitrectomy in treatment of idiopathic macular hole(IMH)with macular hole closure index(MHCI)<0.7.

METHODS: Totally 88 patients(88 eyes)with MHCI<0.7 IMH admitted from May 2014 to May 2017 were randomly divided into group A(44 eyes underwent extended internal limiting membrane dissection)and group B(44 eyes underwent standard internal limiting membrane dissection). The closure of macular hole, best corrected visual acuity(BCVA), central scotoma and complications were observed between the two groups.

RESULTS: At 6mo after operation, the closure rate of macular hole in group A was significantly higher than that in group B(91% vs 75%, P<0.05). At 6mo after operation, BCVA in group A was better than that in group B(0.47±0.05 vs 0.74±0.14, P<0.05). The percentage of central scotoma eyes was lower than that in group B(4% vs 23%, P<0.05), but there was no significant difference in the incidence of complications between the two groups(11% vs 9%, P>0.05).

CONCLUSION: Extended internal limiting membrane dissection is more effective than standard internal limiting membrane dissection in the treatment of IMH with MHCI < 0.7, and the former is better for the recovery of retinal function.