Office-based intravitreal injection of expansile gas for management of macular hole in previously vitrectomized eyes

Purpose: To report the successful closure of full-thickness macular hole (MH), using an office-based intravitreal gas injection, in two eyes having undergone prior pars plana vitrectomy (PPV). Observations: Patient 1 presented with acute loss of visual acuity to 20/300 in the left eye 5 months following PPV for fovea-off rhegmatogenous retinal detachment; MH was confirmed by examination and optical coherence tomography (OCT). 0.6 cc of 100% C3F8 gas was injected, with subsequent MH closure following one week of face-down positioning. Patient 2 presented with right eye visual acuity of 20/60 one month following PPV for optic nerve pit-associated maculopathy; MH was confirmed by examination and OCT. 0.85 cc of 100% C3F8 gas was injected in the office, with subsequent MH closure following one week of face-down positioning. Conclusions and importance: MH management in previously vitrectomized eyes has traditionally been repeat PPV with internal limiting membrane peeling, fluid-air exchange, and expansile gas exchange. Intravitreal gas injection, in an office-based setting, is a viable clinical approach to close MH in some previously vitrectomized eyes.