ObjectiveTo explore the outcome of extended internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling combined with releasing the edge technique for primary failed idiopathic macular hole (IMH) surgery.MethodsA retrospective analysis was performed. The data of 18 eyes of 18 IMH patients who were failed in primary surgery from August 2013 to June 2019 in Peking University People’s Hospital were enrolled in the study. Among them, 5 patients were males and 13 patients were females. The average age was 66.2±6.4 years. The BCVA were measured by ETDRS charts. The minimum macular hole size was measured on OCT B-scan image. The average preoperative BCVA and minimum macular hole size of primary surgery was 32.6±13.1 letters and 621.1±161.8 μm. The average preoperative BCVA and minimum macular hole size of second surgery was 34.4±12.3 letters and 499.0±148.6 μm. Average interval period of first and second surgery was 3.4±1.3 weeks. The surgical technique used in the reoperation included the extended ILM peeling combined with releasing the MH edges. The extended ILM peeling area ranged from 4 DD diameter to vascular arcades. The technique of releasing the macular hole edges was performed by using a silicone soft-tip extrusion cannula, with which tapping the edges softly or aspirated vacuum the edges concentricly. The average follow-up was 9.3±5.2 months. The clear OCT image can be obtained for confirming MH closure which was considered as the closure time in the first time. The comparison of preoperative and postoperative was performed by paired t-test.ResultsThe closure rate of second surgery was 94.4% (17/18), and average closure time was 2.1±1.0 weeks. Only 1 eye experienced the second surgical failure and received the third surgery to achieved macular hole closure. Average final follow-up BCVA was 51.5±13.0 ETDRS letters, with average improvement of 18.9 ETDRS letters (＞3 lines) compared with preoperative BCVA of primary surgery. There was significantly statistical difference between the final BCVA and preoperative BCVA (t=5.412, P＜0.001). Eleven patients (61.1%) had 3 lines BCVA improvement, 15 patients (83.3%) had more than 1 line improvement, and 3 patients (16.7%) had on improvement. The final BCVA of patients significantly improved compared with preoperative BCVA of the second surgery (t=7.595, P＜0.001), with average improvement of 17.1±9.5 letters.ConclusionThe extended ILM peeling combined with releasing macular hole edges technique is effective to improve the closure rate and BCVA of primary failed IMH eyes.