Amniotic membrane for retinal detachment due to paravascular retinal breaks over patchy chorioretinal atrophy in pathologic myopia

Abstract

Purpose: To describe a new surgical technique, using a human amniotic membrane patch, in two cases of retinal detachment with paravascular retinal breaks over patchy chorioretinal atrophy in pathologic myopia, already underwent pars plana vitrectomy with the internal limiting membrane peeling for myopic foveoschisis. Methods: Surgical technique description with surgical video. A 23-gauge pars plana vitrectomy was performed. A human amniotic membrane patch was implanted under the neuroretina to seal the posterior retinal break. Standard silicone oil tamponade was performed at the end of the surgery. The patients were positioned face down after the operation for the first week. Optical coherence tomography scans were used in the follow-ups. Results: The 2 weeks postoperative optical coherence tomography showed a new tissue growth over the human amniotic membrane patch. The 3 months optical coherence tomography showed the new tissue entirely covering the human amniotic membrane plug. Visual acuity improved from 20/2000 (2 LogMAR) to 20/250 (1.1 LogMAR) 3 months after the operation in both patients. The silicone oil was extracted 2 months after surgery, and no recurrences were observed. The patient’s visual acuity remained stable at 20/250 after the silicone oil extraction. Conclusion: In these complex cases, human amniotic membrane transplantation can be a valid option, when internal limiting membrane has already been peeled in previous surgeries, to seal the posterior retinal breaks over high myopic chorioretinal atrophy, with encouraging results.