Purpose: To investigate the pathological changes of epiretinal membranes (ERM) and internal limiting membrane (ILM) removed during idiopathic macular hole surgery.
Methods: Ten consecutive patients with a unilateral idiopathic macular hole underwent pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) with the surgical removal of the ERMs overlying the hole and ILM surrounding the hole. The pathological features of the excised tissues were examined under the microscope.
Results: According to the morphological changes, four ERMs showed cellular elements which looked like glia cells, macrophages, plasma cells, lymphocytes and fibroblast cells. Two of the ILM appeared as transparent membranes without cellular elements. The other eight ILM showed cellular elements on the transparent membranes.
Conclusion: Our study supports the hypothesis that the tangential traction of vitreous and proliferative cellular elements on the inner surface of ILM causes idiopathic macular holes. Removal of the posterior cortical vitreous, ILM and proliferative cellular tissue is a valid treatment for IMH.