To evaluate the long-term anatomical and functional results of macular buckling for retinal detachment associated with a macular hole in high myopia.

Eleven consecutive highly myopic eyes with retinal detachment and macular holes were retrospectively studied between January 2002 and September 2010. All cases developed after pars plana vitrectomy for internal limiting membrane removal, for the treatment of retinal detachment associated with a macular hole, or vitreomacular traction with a macular hole. Macular buckling with an episcleral sponge was performed for all cases. The mean follow-up period after macular buckling was 45.1 months (range from 12 to 102 months). Retinal reattachment and macular hole closure after the surgery and best-corrected visual acuity before and after the surgery were evaluated.

Nine out of 11 eyes were successfully treated with the macular buckling procedure. In the remaining 2 eyes, retinal re-detachment occurred with anterior proliferative vitreoretinopathy. In these eyes, successful retinal attachment occurred after reoperation with silicone oil tamponade. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) was performed after the surgery in 10 out of 11 eyes and the macular hole closure rate was 30%. The mean best corrected visual acuity went from counting fingers preoperatively to 0.06 postoperatively.

The macular buckling procedure is effective for retinal detachment associated with a macular hole in high myopia, especially following an unsuccessful pars plana vitrectomy with removal of inner retinal traction.