THE TEXAS TACO TECHNIQUE FOR INTERNAL LIMITING MEMBRANE FLAP IN LARGE FULL-THICKNESS MACULAR HOLES: A Short-Term Pilot Study

PURPOSE: To determine the efficacy of a novel application of a surgical internal limiting membrane flap technique that requires no additional surgical adjuvants in closure of large full-thickness macular holes (FTMHs). METHODS: The electronic medical records of patients (n = 8) with large (>400 µm) FTMHs repaired with the "Texas Taco" technique were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Operated patients had a mean age of 63.8 ± 19.2 (range, 19-80) years. There were five (62.5%) phakic and three (37.5%) pseudophakic eyes preoperatively. Mean follow-up time was 9.1 ± 4.7 (1.5-14.5) months. Across all patients, mean FTMH diameter at the shortest and greatest widths were 529 ± 101 (404-661) and 1,189 ± 290 (829-1,656) µm, respectively. Mean best-corrected logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution visual acuity was 1.3 ± 0.23 preoperatively (approximately Snellen acuity 20/400) and 0.66 ± 0.40 postoperatively (approximately Snellen acuity 20/100) (P < 0.001). All FTMHs remained closed at all postoperative visits. CONCLUSION: The Texas Taco technique provided anatomical and functional improvement in challenging cases of large FTMHs without the need of additional surgical adjuvants.