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Purpose: To determine the morphology of the fovea in the ophthalmoscopically and tomographically normal fellow eyes of patients with a unilateral idiopathic macular hole (MH) and determine the association between foveal morphological parameters and foveal outer nuclear layer (ONL) thickness., Design: Retrospective observational study., Participants: Two hundred three normal fellow eyes of patients with a unilateral MH and 216 normal eyes of 216 healthy subjects., Methods: All the eyes were examined using swept-source OCT. A built-in software was used to measure the average retinal and choroidal thickness in the center and in the inner 4 subfields defined in ETDRS. The total retinal thickness, thickness of 3 retinal layers at the fovea and parafovea (0.25 and 0.5 mm nasal and temporal from the fovea), and foveal floor width (FFW) were measured on a scan image of a horizontal line passing through the center of the fovea. We defined the thickness between the internal limiting membrane and outer plexiform layer as inner retinal thickness and the thickness between the external limiting membrane and retinal pigment epithelium as outer retinal thickness. Multiple regression analyses were performed with age, sex, axial length, and the presence of a posterior vitreous detachment as the dependent variables., Main Outcome Measures: OCT measurements and correlations between foveal parameters and foveal ONL thickness., Results: The fellow eyes had a thinner central retinal subfield, thinner fovea, thinner ONL at all points except at 0.5 mm nasal, significantly thicker outer retina at all points, and a wider FFW (P = 0.040 to P < 0.0001). The foveal ONL thickness was significantly and positively correlated with the central subfield retinal thickness and foveal thickness and negatively correlated with the FFW (all P < 0.0001)., Conclusions: The thinner and deeper fovea and the thinner ONL of the fellow eyes of patients with a unilateral MH make these eyes more susceptible to the formation of an MH., (Copyright © 2022 American Academy of Ophthalmology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: To measure the foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area after internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling and to determine the factors significantly correlated with the FAZ area., Methods: This was a retrospective, observational, and cross-sectional study. The affected and normal fellow eyes of 102 patients with unilateral macular diseases and 169 healthy subjects were studied. The patients underwent successful vitrectomy with internal limiting membrane peeling for an epiretinal membrane (n = 56) or a macular hole (n = 46). The superficial FAZ area and average foveal (within 1 mm) thickness were measured. The main outcome measures were the en face FAZ area measured in the optical coherence tomography angiographic images., Results: The FAZ area in the epiretinal membrane group (0.148 ± 0.094 mm) and in the macular hole group (0.255 ± 0.111 mm) were significantly smaller than that in the healthy control group (0.358 ± 0.118 mm; all, P < 0.0001). Multiple regression analysis showed that a thicker fovea was significantly correlated with a smaller FAZ area in the epiretinal membrane group (r = -0.799, P < 0.0001), macular hole group (r = -0.473, P = 0.0042), and control group (r = -0.612, P < 0.0001)., Conclusion: The FAZ area after internal limiting membrane peeling was smaller than that of the controls. A smaller FAZ area was correlated with a thicker fovea both in internal limiting membrane-peeled eyes and normal eyes.

Purpose: To determine the changes of regional macular thickness after successful macular hole surgery (MHS) with internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling during a 24-month follow-up period., Methods: In a prospective, interventional case study, the authors evaluated 24 eyes of 24 patients who underwent 23-gauge transconjunctival pars plana vitrectomy with triamcinolone-assisted ILM peeling to treat idiopathic macular hole. Examinations were performed before and 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, 12, and 24 months after surgery. Average regional macular thicknesses in the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study sectors were measured by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography., Results: The four inner sectors showed a significant reduction in the average retinal thickness at 1 month after surgery (P ≤ 0.0001-0.020), and the thickness continued to decrease for 24 months except in the nasal sector. The four outer sectors had a significant increase at postoperative 1 month (P = 0.0003-0.029) and then progressively decreased during the postoperative 24 months. The postoperative regional macular thinning was statistically significant even between 12 and 24 months (P = 0.0007-0.026) in all sectors except in the inner nasal sector (P = 0.13). The postoperative percent reduction rate was significantly different among four inner sectors after postoperative 3 months (P = 0.0029-0.039) in the order of temporal > superior > inferior > nasal sectors., Conclusions: These results suggest that a progressive macular thinning occurs for at least 2 years with different patterns of the changes in the macular regions after successful MHS with ILM peeling.

Purpose: To compare the morphologic parameters of ophthalmoscopically and tomographically normal foveae of the fellow eyes of patients with a unilateral macular hole (MH), other unilateral retinal diseases, and healthy eyes., Design: Observational, cross-sectional study., Methods: Of the 849 subjects studied, 183 eyes were excluded because they had an abnormal vitreofoveal interface that might have affected the foveal thickness. The average regional retinal thicknesses of the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study sectors determined by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography were compared among 160 patients with MH, 175 patients with epiretinal membrane, 145 patients with retinal vein occlusion, and 186 healthy subjects. The foveal depression was quantified as the foveal pit depth divided by the foveal pit diameter., Results: The fovea (1 mm) and central fovea were significantly thinner in the MH group (243 and 192 μm) than in the other groups (P < .0001). There were no significant differences in the thickness of the fovea and central fovea among the eyes with epiretinal membrane (254 and 203 μm) or retinal vein occlusion (251 and 202 μm) or in the healthy group (254 and 201 μm). The foveal depression was significantly greater in the MH group (0.063) than in the retinal vein occlusion group (0.059) or in the healthy group (0.058; P = .014 and P = .0014, respectively). Multiple regression analyses showed that a thinner fovea and a deeper foveal depression were associated significantly with the presence of MH (P = .0054 to P < .0001)., Conclusions: These results suggest that patients with MH have unique foveal morphologic features that predispose them to MH development., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: To compare the vitreoretinal interface of the asymptomatic fellow eyes of patients with unilateral macular holes (MHs) with that of the asymptomatic fellow eyes of patients with other retinal diseases and with that of healthy eyes., Design: Retrospective, observational cross-sectional study., Participants: This study included 137 healthy volunteers and 929 eyes of 929 patients with various unilateral retinal diseases., Methods: We reviewed medical charts, fundus photographs, and spectral-domain optical coherence tomographic (SD OCT) images. The incidence of the features of the vitreoretinal interface and foveal structures in the SD OCT images were compared among the asymptomatic fellow eyes of patients with unilateral MHs (n = 242), age-related macular degeneration (n = 129), epiretinal membrane (n = 185), macular pseudohole (n = 48), rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (n = 68), retinal vein occlusion (n = 257), and 1 of the eyes of healthy individuals (n = 137)., Main Outcome Measures: Findings of slit-lamp biomicroscopy and SD OCT B-scan images., Results: The SD OCT B-scan images showed different types of foveal deformations associated with vitreofoveal adhesions in eyes without a posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) in the macular area. The incidence of the foveal deformations associated with vitreofoveal adhesions was significantly higher (P<0.0001) in the fellow eyes of the unilateral MH group (17%) than that in the other groups (0%-2%), except for the macular pseudohole group (8%). The SD OCT B-scan images also showed residual foveal deformations in eyes with a macular PVD. The incidence of a residual foveal deformation in eyes with a macular PVD was significantly higher (P<0.0001) in the MH group (32%) than that in any other group (0%-9%)., Conclusions: The higher incidence of foveal deformations in the fellow eyes of patients with unilateral MHs with and without vitreofoveal adhesions suggests that patients in whom MHs develop have abnormally strong vitreofoveal adhesions sufficient to cause foveal deformation., Financial Disclosure(s): The author(s) have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article., (Copyright © 2011 American Academy of Ophthalmology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: To determine the incidence and the factors that can cause a reopening of a macular hole (MH) after a surgical closure., Design: Retrospective, comparative, consecutive case series., Methods: The medical charts of all patients who underwent vitrectomy with or without internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling for an idiopathic full-thickness MH were reviewed. In all cases, the MH was closed successfully. Simultaneous phacoemulsification with intraocular lens implantation was performed on all phakic patients who were older than 40 years., Results: Eight hundred and seventy-seven eyes of 831 patients with a mean age of 64.9 +/- 8.0 years were studied. Combined cataract extraction with vitrectomy was performed on 763 eyes of 775 phakic eyes. The mean follow-up time after MH surgery was 57.7 +/- 38.4 months (range, 1 to 175 months). Two groups were studied: an ILM-off group (n = 514) and an ILM-on group (n = 363). The MH reopened in 2 eyes (0.39%) in the ILM-off group and in 26 eyes (7.2%) in ILM-on group (P < .0001). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed higher rates of reopening in the ILM-on group than in the ILM-off group (P< .0001, log-rank test). Factors related to the reopening in the ILM-on group were refractive error (r = -0.12; P = .049) and intraoperative peripheral tear formation (r = 0.13; P = .018)., Conclusions: ILM peeling significantly decreases the incidence of the reopening of an MH. Although the pathogenesis of the reopening of MHs is still undetermined, myopia and intraoperative retinal tears may be related to the reopening., (Copyright 2010. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Purpose: To characterize outcomes for patients who develop full-thickness macular holes after pars plana vitrectomy., Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data for 47 consecutive patients (47 eyes) who developed full-thickness macular holes after initial pars plana vitrectomy for a variety of indications. All patients underwent a second vitrectomy and gas tamponade with or without internal limiting membrane peeling., Results: Indications for initial vitrectomy included idiopathic epiretinal membranes (11 eyes), epiretinal membranes with a pseudohole (nine eyes), macular edema resulting from various conditions (nine eyes), proliferative diabetic retinopathy (nine eyes), rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (five eyes), and miscellaneous causes (four eyes). Mean interval from initial vitrectomy to macular hole formation was 20.4 months. Mean visual acuity (VA) in the affected eye was 0.13 (20/155, Snellen equivalent). The hole was closed in 32 eyes (68%) after a single procedure. With a mean follow-up of 53 months, mean final VA improved to 0.26 (20/77); 26 (55%) eyes improved, 18 (38%) were stable, and three (6%) worsened. No severe complications occurred except one macular hole that reopened after successful closure., Conclusions: Macular holes may develop after pars plana vitrectomy. Although additional vitrectomy can successfully close the hole and improve vision in most patients, postsurgical outcome seems to depend on the underlying condition.

Purpose: To report long-term anatomical and functional results after pars plana vitrectomy with internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling using triamcinolone acetonide (TA) for idiopathic macular holes., Design: Prospective, consecutive, interventional case series., Methods: Ninety-six eyes of 94 patients who underwent macular hole surgery with TA-assisted ILM peeling were included in the study. Patients with <12 months of follow-up were excluded. On 82 phakic eyes, simultaneous phacoemulsification with intraocular lens implantation was performed. Follow-up examinations included clinical examination, determination of best-corrected visual acuity, intraocular pressure measurement, optical coherence tomography, Goldmann perimetry, and static perimetry using the Humphrey visual field analyzer. The main outcome measures were postoperative visual acuity, macular hole status, and postoperative complications., Results: The mean follow-up period was 17 months (range, 12-30 months). TA improved visualization of the ILM, and the peeled area was seen as an area lacking white specks. All macular holes successfully closed after primary surgery. Mean visual acuity improved from 0.26 to 1.0 at the final visit (P < 0.0001), with 90 eyes (94%) having improvement of visual acuity. Postoperative complications included retinal detachment in one patient and transient intraocular pressure elevation in five patients., Conclusions: Although transient intraocular pressure elevation was observed in a few patients, the use of TA in macular hole surgery may be an effective and safe technique to facilitate visualization of the ILM and can lead to good long-term anatomical and functional results.

Purpose: To compare the long-term anatomic closure rate and visual outcome in patients who underwent internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling with and without indocyanine green (ICG) dye staining for idiopathic macular hole repair., Design: Retrospective, nonrandomized, comparative study of consecutive case series., Methods: A total of 190 eyes of 182 patients with idiopathic macular holes underwent macular hole repair between March 1998 and June 2003. Surgery consisted of pars plana vitrectomy, lensectomy if phakic, ILM peeling, intravitreal gas tamponade, and 1 week's face-down positioning. In the initial 94 consecutive eyes, ILM peeling was performed without adjuvants (non-ICG group). The subsequent 96 eyes underwent surgery with ICG-stained ILM peeling (ICG group), in which the ILM was stained with intravitreal application of 0.1 to 0.2 mL of 0.1% ICG solution., Results: Two groups of patients had comparable clinical backgrounds preoperatively. Mean follow-up time was 30.7 months in non-ICG group and 26.2 months in ICG group. Anatomic closure of the macular hole was achieved in 99% of the cases in both groups, with both groups showing statistically significant visual improvement. There was no statistically significant difference in visual acuity between the two groups at each follow-up visit. There were also no intraoperative or postoperative complications attributed to the use of ICG., Conclusions: Long-term follow-up of patients undergoing ILM peeling for idiopathic macular hole repair shows equivalent anatomic and visual outcomes with and without the use of ICG.

Purpose: To compare surgical results for idiopathic macular holes with and without internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling in a series of consecutive patients during an 8-year period., Methods: A retrospective, nonrandomized, comparative trial. Four hundred seventeen eyes with macular holes without ILM peeling were compared with 175 eyes with ILM peeling. All eyes underwent pars plana vitrectomy with intravitreous gas, followed by head-down positioning. No adjunctive therapies were used. Comparison of closure and reopening rates and visual acuity with and without ILM peeling was analyzed., Results: Initial success rate significantly improved from 81% to 92% with ILM peeling. ILM peeling significantly improved the initial success rates in all categories of preoperative features. Reopening rates significantly decreased from 7% to 0.6% with ILM peeling. Among successful cases, line improvement was 6.0 in ILM-reserved eyes and 5.8 in ILM-peeled eyes. Among all cases, line improvement was 5.4 in ILM-reserved eyes and 5.7 in ILM-peeled eyes. Initial success rate of holes measuring more than 400 microm was significantly less than that of holes measuring less than 400 microm with or without ILM peeling. Initial success rate of holes older than 6 months old was significantly less than that for holes less than 6 months old without ILM peeling., Conclusions: Internal limiting membrane peeling shows high closure and low reopening rates in macular hole surgery. ILM peeling is beneficial in older holes but is limited in larger holes. ILM peeling does not significantly improve visual acuity.

We evaluated the factors affecting closure and postoperative visual acuity, as well as complications among idiopathic macular hole surgery cases comprising 631 eyes in 576 patients. Almost all the surgeries were combined with simultaneous intraocular lens surgery (triple surgery). In some cases, the standard method was accompanied by internal limiting membrane peeling around the macular hole or abrasion of retinal pigment epithelium at the base of the macular holes. We found that male gender and short eye axial length were associated with closure and postoperative visual acuity. Although the frequency of peripheral retinal tears during surgery was high, the frequency of postoperative retinal detachment was less than 2%. The reopening frequency was about 5% among all cases, and was highest among eyes that underwent the abrasion method. There were no other significant complications. Internal limiting membrane peeling is effective for treatment of cases with unfavorable preoperative conditions. However, the standard method is sufficiently effective for cases with favorable preoperative conditions. Further analysis is required to evaluate postoperative visual function by methods other than visual acuity. Further study of internal limiting membrane peeling, as a treatment alternative, is also required.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the differences in the clinical features of idiopathic macular holes between sexes and stages., Methods: Five hundred and twenty-six eyes of 480 patients with stage 3 or 4 idiopathic macular hole that had undergone vitrectomy were observed consecutively in this study. The each stage ratio, bilaterality, and affected eye were examined and the differences in age, hole duration, hole size, visual acuity, refractive power, axial length, and corneal refractive power were evaluated., Results: Twenty-six % of the cases were stage 4 in males and 31% in females. There were no significant differences in bilaterality or affected eye between the sexes. Younger age and larger size were found in females of stage 3. Larger size was found in stage 4. More myopic eye and longer axial length were found in males of stage 4. There were no significant differences in hole duration and visual acuity between sexes or stages., Conclusions: In females the onset of macular hole occurred at a younger age than in males, size of the hole was larger from an earlier stage, and refractive power was less myopic. More myopic eye and longer axial length were found in stage 4, especially in males. This fact might be related to the existence of posterior vitreous detachment. We concluded that there were some differences in the mechanism of the onset and the progression of idiopathic macular hole between males and females.

Purpose: To evaluate the factors of intraoperative retinal breaks in macular hole surgery., Methods: This study included 558 eyes of 506 patients who underwent idiopathic macular hole surgery by one surgeon. Multiple regression was performed using the variables of gender, age, affected eye, lens status, stage, duration of symptoms, hole size, axial length, and lattice degeneration., Results: The rate of retinal breaks was higher in stage 3 (16.0%) than in stage 4 (8.2%) (p = 0.014). In eyes with lattice degeneration intraoperative retinal breaks occurred in about 40% of the cases. Major factors were as follows: lattice degeneration (r = 0.24, p < 0.0001) in all eyes, stage (r = 0.090, p = 0.048) in eyes without lattice degeneration, and gender (r = -0.18, p = 0.035) in eyes of stage 4 without lattice degeneration., Conclusions: The factors of intraoperative retinal breaks in macular hole surgery were lattice degeneration in all eyes and stage 3 in eyes without lattice degeneration. The high incidence of intraoperative retinal breaks in stage 3 was mainly due to the occurrence of posterior vitreous detachment. Male gender was a significant factor associated with intraoperative retinal breaks.

Purpose: To detect the factors related to the operculum in idiopathic macular holes and present a pathogenesis of idiopathic macular holes., Methods: This study included 583 eyes of idiopathic macular hole that underwent macular hole surgery. To detect the factor related to the operculum, the variables of age, duration of symptoms, hole size, preoperative visual acuity, refraction, axial length, refraction axial length ratio were used for the comparison between two groups and multiple regression. The success rate of surgery and postoperative visual acuity were examined whether the operculum was present or not., Results: The variables that were significantly related to the operculum were as follows: refraction axial length ratio (r = 0.18, p = 0.0092) in women of stage 3, duration of symptoms (r = -0.44, p < 0.001), preoperative visual acuity (r = -0.33, p = 0.0025), and refraction axial length ratio (r = -0.22, p = 0.020) in women of stage 4, and age (r = 0.19, p = 0.047) in men of stage 3. There were no significant differences in the success rate of surgery and postoperative visual acuity whether the operculum was present or not., Conclusions: Generally, operculum tends to occur in aged and round eyes and possibly does not occur in younger and back projected eyes because of retinal fissure. In women of stage 4, the operculum is possibly a torn retina and does not occur in atrophic holes.

Purpose: To evaluate the factors of initial success in macular hole surgery., Methods: This study included 526 eyes of 480 patients who underwent idiopathic macular hole surgery by one and the same surgeon. Surgical methods included conventional method (392 eyes), retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) scalping (61 eyes), internal limiting membrane (ILM) removal (62 eyes), and RPE scalping combined with ILM removal (11 eyes). To evaluate the factors of initial success multiple regression was performed using the variables of (gender, age, stage, duration of symptoms, hole size, axial length, and preoperative visual acuity)., Results: The rate of initial success was 81.4% in all eyes, 80.9% in the conventional method, 78.7% in RPE scalping, 83.9% in ILM removal, and 100% in RPE scalping combined with ILM removal. Significant factors of initial success were as follows: gender (r = -0.091, p = 0.053), age (r = -0.14, p = 0.0062), duration of symptoms (r = -0.23, p < 0.0001), hole size (r = -0.23, p < 0.0001), and axial length (r = -0.21, p < 0.0001) in the conventional method, hole size (r = -0.56, p = 0.0006) in ILM removal and stage (r = -0.43, p = 0.0011) and preoperative visual acuity (r = 0.30, p = 0.018) in RPE scalping., Conclusions: Significant factors of initial success were being male being young, shorter duration of symptoms, smaller hole size, and shorter axial length in the conventional method, smaller hole size in ILM removal and stage 4 and better preoperative visual acuity in RPE scalping method.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical features of idiopathic macular holes., Materials and Methods: The clinical features were examined in consequentive 526 eyes of 480 patients with idiopathic macular hole who underwent vitrectomy., Results: Sixty-seven% of the patients were female. The mean onset age was 64.4 years of age and 60% of the cases were in their 60's at the time of onset. The mean refractive value was -0.66 dioptor and 40% of the cases were emmetropia with a refractive value between -1.0 dioptor and +1.0 dioptor. The onset age was positively correlated with refractive value. The visual acuity was negatively correlated with onset age, duration after onset, and the size of the macular hole. The duration was positively correlated with onset age. The size of the macular hole was positively correlated with age and duration. The factors for good visual acuity were determined by bilaterality, youth, or small size. Also we found the factors for large size of macular holes to be female gender, long duration of the hole, being in stage 4, and low visual acuity., Conclusions: The incidence of idiopathic macular hole is seen more in eyes of patients in their 60's and in emmetropic eyes. Patients with myopic eyes tend to have younger onset. The size of the macular hole in females tends to be larger than in males.

Purpose: To evaluate the variables that influence visual acuity and visual improvement after macular hole surgery., Methods: Our study included 421 eyes in which maculor holes were successfully closed after surgery and followed up at least 1 year after the last surgery. Surgical techniques were conventional methods (Group 1: 350 eyes) with retinal pigment scalping of the macular hole basis added in the refractory cases (Group 2: 71 eyes). The variables used for the multiple regression were gender, age, preoperative visual acuity, hole stage, duration of symptoms, hole size, and axial length., Results: The variables that most influenced postoperative visual acuity were as follows: Group 1: gender (r = -0.011, p = 0.016), age (r = -0.17, p = 0.005), preoperative visual acuity (r = 0.51, p < 0.0001), duration of symptoms (r = -0.015, p < 0.0001), and axial length (r = -0.090, p = 0.045). Group 2: age (r = -0.18, p = 0.047), and preoperative visual acuity (r = 0.47, p < 0.0001)., Conclusions: The variables that influenced visual acuity and visual improvement after macular hole surgery were common. In Group 1: gender, age, preoperative visual acuity, duration of symptoms, and axial length; in Group 2: age and preoperative visual acuity.

Purpose: To evaluate the incidence and variables of reopening of macular holes after macular hole surgery., Methods: Our study included 467 eyes in which maculor holes were successfully closed after surgery. Surgical techniques consisted of conventional methods (358 eyes) and scalping methods (109 eyes) with retinal pigment scalping of the macular hole basis added in such cases: reoperation, hole size (more than 0.4 disc diameter), duration of symptoms (more than 2 years). Long term incidence of reopening was predicted by life table method. After we compared reopened cases with non-reopened cases, the variables of gender, stage, biocular occurrence, age, duration of symptoms, hole size, preoperative visual acuity, refraction axial length ratio, and intraoperative retinal tears were used for the multiple regression., Results: Reopening was found in 20 eyes (5.6%) treated by conventional methods and in 10 eyes (9.2%) treated by scalping methods. Survival ratio was 87% for the conventional methods in 6 years and 79% for the scalping methods in 5 years. The variables influencing reopening were as follows: conventional methods: gender (r = 0.065, p = 0.19), biocular occurrence (r = 0.12, p = 0.026), and refraction axial length ratio (r = -0.11, p = 0.045); scalping methods: hole size (r = 0.14, p = 0.25)., Conclusions: Incidence of reopening in scalping methods was high. The variables that influenced reopening after macular hole surgery were biocular occurrence and refraction axial length ratio in conventional methods. The shape of the eye may be related to reopening.

Purpose: To review the anatomic and visual outcomes of a series of patients with traumatic macular holes who underwent vitreous surgery without adjunctive therapy., Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review of 23 patients who underwent vitrectomy, fluid-gas exchange, and sulfur hexafluoride gas tamponade for traumatic macular holes. Anatomic success rate and final visual improvement after the surgery were studied., Results: Medical records of 23 patients (23 eyes) who underwent this procedure were reviewed. Closure of the macular hole was achieved in 16 (70%) eyes with one surgery and in 22 (96%) of the 23 eyes with two surgeries. The mean best-corrected preoperative visual acuity was 20/160, and postoperative visual acuity was 20/60 with a mean (+/- standard deviation) follow-up of 23+/-13 months (range 3-56 months). Fourteen (61 %) of the 23 eyes achieved a best-corrected postoperative visual acuity of 20/60 or better, and 11 (48%) of the 23 eyes achieved 20/40 or better. Twenty (87%) of the 23 eyes achieved at least two lines of visual improvement., Conclusions: Vitreous surgery without adjunctive therapy for traumatic macular holes can lead to anatomic success and visual acuity improvement in most eyes.

We performed vitreous surgery for macular holes following membrane peeling. The cases were five eyes of five females aged 42 to 67 years at the time of membrane peeling, out of 441 eyes of 414 patients who underwent membrane peeling. One eye had secondary epiretinal membrane combined with ocular sarcoidosis, two eyes had idiopathic epiretinal membrane, and two eyes had idiopathic vitreoretinal traction syndrome. The presumed interval from membrane peeling to macular hole formation was 5 to 90 months (average 14 months). For treatment of the macular holes, membrane peeling and SF6 gas tamponade were performed. In four eyes of the five eyes, the macular hole was closed. In the remaining eye, removal of the retinal pigment epithelium from the base of macular hole and application of fibrin glue were used in addition to SF6 gas tamponade, but the macular hole was not closed. The follow-up term was 10-24 months (average 17.6 months). Geometrical mean visual acuity was 0.34 before membrane peeling, 0.94 at maximum after membrane peeling, 0.19 after macular hole formation, 0.51 at maximum after macular hole surgery, and 0.44 at the final visit.

I investigated whether posterior vitreous detachment is invariably associated with retinal detachment in the elderly caused by flap retinal tears. Of 97 eyes which underwent vitrectomy, Weiss' ring was not observed in 10 eyes during both the preoperative slit lamp microscope examination and the intraoperative surgical microscope observation. I proved by surgically detaching the posterior vitreous in 5 out of those 10 eyes that the posterior vitreous had not yet become detached before the operation. My results suggest that posterior vitreous detachment may not be associated with 5 to 10% of cases of retinal detachment caused by flap retinal tears.

Macular hole surgery in 133 eyes of 128 patients resulted in anatomical success (closure and disappearance of the macular hole) in 79% (105 eyes) with the follow-up ranging from 3 to 36 months (8.1 +/- 5.5 months). The anatomical success was correlated with short estimated duration of symptoms, small size of the macular hole and lack of findings suggestive of a long-standing macular hole. Postoperative visual acuity in the anatomically successful cases was correlated with the preoperative visual acuity (positive correlation), the patient age (inverse correlation), and the estimated duration of symptoms (inverse correlation). After macular hole surgery on 63 eyes with 12 months or more in estimated duration of symptoms, 0.3 or more disc diameter in the size, 0.1 or more in preoperative visual acuity, and patient age of more than 70 years, anatomical success was obtained in 95% (60 eyes) and visual acuity of 1.0 or more in 22% (14 eyes), and 0.5 or more in 71% (45 eyes). These conditions, thus, are those indicating good anatomical and functional results.

In 250 eyes with retinal detachment due to macular hole, the visual prognosis of each surgical technique was evaluated. (1) Macular diathermy adversely affected the visual prognosis. (2) Macular buckling+macular diathermy produced a poorer visual prognosis than macular buckling alone. (3) The visual prognosis resulting from gas tamponade alone or vitrectomy+gas tamponade was better than that resulting from macular diathermy. It is not clear whether there is a significant difference in visual prognosis between gas tamponade alone and vitrectomy+gas tamponade. (4) Macular laser photocoagulation does not adversely affect the visual prognosis. Judging from these results, gas tamponade, which has the possibility of better visual prognosis and less operation stress, should be selected as the initial technique.

We evaluated reattachment rates of the transvitreal and transscleral techniques for treating 250 eyes with retinal detachment due to macular hole. The initial success rate of the transvitreal approach was 56% (53/94). There was no difference between the results of gas tamponade alone and vitrectomy and gas tamponade. The initial success rate of the transscleral approach was 83% (130/156). Macular diathermy and macular buckling showed a higher reattachment rate than macular diathermy alone. The final success rates were the same (95%), regardless of which approach was selected as an initial technique. The patients whose initial transvitreal reattachment failed and who underwent additional transvitreal procedures (including macular laser photocoagulation) showed a success rate of 93%. We believe that gas tamponade, which has possibility of better visual prognosis, should be selected as an initial technique because the final success rate was found to be the same regardless of the initial surgical techniques.