Macular Hole Follow-up

  • Author: Kean Theng Oh, MD; Chief Editor: Hampton Roy Sr, MD   more...
 
Updated: Jul 7, 2011
 

Further Outpatient Care

  • Because complications, such as cataracts and retinal detachment, can follow treatment for macular holes, regular examinations are necessary.
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Complications

  • Surgical complications include retinal detachments, iatrogenic retinal tears, enlargement of the hole, macular light toxicity, postoperative pressure elevation, and cataractogenesis.
  • Postoperative pressure elevation usually can be treated pharmacologically but may sometimes require an anterior chamber or vitreous tap.
  • Failure of hole closure/hole reopening: Histopathologic evaluation of specimens from patients with failed initial macular hole surgery demonstrated massive proliferation of cells and newly formed collagen associated with remaining ILM. The residual ILM and the associated collagen fibrils may become the source of persistent traction that prevents macular hole closure.
  • Retinal detachment/iatrogenic tears: The rate of postoperative retinal detachment is reported from 2-14%.
  • Visual field defects
    • Visual field defects have been noted following macular hole surgery.
    • They are related to dehydration of the nerve fiber layer.
    • The rate is reduced by shorter surgical times, lower air flow, and oblique placement of infusion cannulas caused by beveled incisions of smaller gauge vitrectomies.
  • Cataract formation
    • There is a small risk of hole reopening in the immediate postoperative period following cataract surgery.
    • Consideration of prophylaxis versus cystoid macular edema may reduce the risk of hole reopening after cataract surgery.
    • A retrospective case series by Bhatnagar et al (2007) suggest that prior or simultaneous cataract extraction may carry a better long-term visual prognosis than cataract extraction following macular hole repair due to the risk of reopening of the hole following cataract surgery.[12]
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Prognosis

  • In 1994, Wendel reported a series of 235 consecutive eyes undergoing repair of macular holes.[13] In this series, 93% of patients were successfully managed with only a single operation; 60% patients experienced 4+ lines of visual improvement; and 84% patients experienced 2+ lines of improvement.[13] Within this group, 58% of patients achieved 20/40 or better final visual acuity.[13]
  • Multiple other studies cite similar success rates, though vision recovery may be protracted and also further delayed by onset of cataract formation. Use of ILM peeling may further increase the rate of single operation success, though it may potentially slow or affect final vision recovery. See Controversies surrounding the surgical repair of macular holes.
  • OCT imaging preoperatively and postoperatively has provided additional prognostic data for visual recovery following macular hole surgery. Factors on OCT predictive of good visual acuity macular hole surgical outcome are as follows:
    • Size of macular hole (minimum diameter < 311 µm)
    • Traction on macular hole edges as defined by various parameters (eg, macular hole height)
    • Development of a normal photoreceptor inner segment and outer segment junction, which can occur as early as 1 month postoperatively but typically by 6 months postoperatively as shown in the images below. Preoperative fundus photograph of a macular hole. Preoperative fundus photograph of a macular hole. Fundus photograph of the same patient as in the imFundus photograph of the same patient as in the image above at 6 months postoperatively. Note the increased media opacity caused by cataractous changes of the lens.
  • While surgery for macular holes is considered elective, it is important for the patient to consider prognostically that there is potentially a risk for the fellow eye to develop a macular hole as well (12%).
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Patient Education

  • Older individuals should be educated on the necessity of a yearly eye examination since early symptoms of a macular hole can easily go undetected by the patient.
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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Kean Theng Oh, MD  Consulting Staff, Associated Retinal Consultants, PC

Kean Theng Oh, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Society of Retina Specialists, and Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Bradley M Hughes, MD  Assistant Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, Retina and Vitreous Service, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

Bradley M Hughes, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha and American Academy of Ophthalmology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Neal H Atebara, MD  Private Practice, Retina Center of Hawaii

Neal H Atebara, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Medical Association, American Society of Retina Specialists, Hawaii Medical Association, and Retina Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

John H Drouilhet, MD, FACS  Clinical Professor, Department of Surgery, Section of Ophthalmology, University of Hawaii, John A Burns School of Medicine

John H Drouilhet, MD, FACS is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Ophthalmology, American College of Surgeons, and American Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Brian A Phillpotts, MD  Former Vitreo-Retinal Service Director, Former Program Director, Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, Howard University College of Medicine

Brian A Phillpotts, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Diabetes Association, American Medical Association, and National Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Simon K Law, MD, PharmD  Associate Professor of Ophthalmology, Jules Stein Eye Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, David Geffen School of Medicine

Simon K Law, MD, PharmD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Glaucoma Society, and Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Steve Charles, MD  Director of Charles Retina Institute; Clinical Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Tennessee College of Medicine; Adjunct Professor of Ophthalmology, Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons; Clinical Professor Ophthalmology, Chinese University of Hong Kong

Steve Charles, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Society of Retina Specialists, Club Jules Gonin, Macula Society, and Retina Society

Disclosure: Alcon Laboratories Consulting fee Consulting; OptiMedica Ownership interest Other; Topcon Medical Lasers Consulting fee Consulting

Lance L Brown, OD, MD  Ophthalmologist, Affiliated With Freeman Hospital and St John's Hospital, Regional Eye Center, Joplin, Missouri

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Hampton Roy Sr, MD  Associate Clinical Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

Hampton Roy Sr, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Ophthalmology, American College of Surgeons, and Pan-American Association of Ophthalmology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Acknowledgments

The authors and editors of eMedicine gratefully acknowledge the contributions of previous author, Sherman O Valero, MD, to the development and writing of this article.

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Full-thickness macular hole showing a surrounding cuff of subretinal fluid.
Full-thickness macular hole with typical yellowish granular deposits on the retinal pigment epithelium.
Fluorescein angiogram showing a central window defect.
Preoperative fundus photograph of a macular hole.
Fundus photograph of the same patient as in the image above at 6 months postoperatively. Note the increased media opacity caused by cataractous changes of the lens.
Fundus photograph of a stage 1a macular hole with characteristic yellow spot at the center of the fovea.
 
 
 
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