ATYPICAL MACULAR HOLES

[Predictive parameters for anatomical surgical success in full-thickness macular holes : A retrospective evaluation of 391 eyes]

BACKGROUND

Full-thickness macular hole (FTMH) is a rare disease. Not all FTMHs can be closed by primary surgical intervention.

OBJECTIVE

This work aims to characterize a large patient population with FTMHs and to detect possible predictive factors for anatomical treatment success.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study comprises a retrospective analysis of all consecutive idiopathic macular holes between March 2008 and June 2019 at the University Eye Hospital Cologne. Epidemiologic data, preoperative parameters (size of the FTMH), and surgical technique were examined in relation to the closure rate following primary surgery.

RESULTS

The anatomical closure rate for idiopathic FTMH after primary surgery was 83.6%. No association between age, gender, and lens status and closure rate could be shown. Regarding anatomical surgical success, the favorable prognostic factors identified were a small FTMH size, short symptom duration, performance of transconjunctival 23-gauge vitrectomy, and application of the inverted flap technique of the internal limiting membrane (ILM).

CONCLUSION

Surgical treatment represents a valuable treatment option for patients with macular holes due to good prospects of success. Prompt intervention after diagnosis using 23-gauge vitrectomy and an ILM flap with gas tamponade seems to result in the most favorable outcomes.

THERAPEUTIC EFFECT OF USING AUTOLOGOUS PLATELET CONCENTRATE IN VITRECTOMY FOR MACULAR HOLE: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

PURPOSE

To summarize the current evidence regarding the therapeutic effect of using autologous platelet concentrate (APC) in vitrectomy for macular hole (MH).

METHODS

The PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase databases were searched according to the PROSPERO protocol (CRD42022366202). Controlled trials comparing whether APC was used in the vitrectomy of MH were included. The primary outcome was the closure rate of MH and postoperative best-corrected visual acuity, and the secondary outcome was the incidence of different types of complications.

RESULTS

Seven studies that included 634 eyes were eligible. For the primary outcome, the usage of APC significantly improved the closure rate of MH in vitrectomy (odds ratio [OR] = 5.34, 95% confidence interval, 2.83-10.07, P < 0.001). Postoperative visual acuity did not significantly differ between the APC group and similar baseline controls (SMD = -0.07, 95% confidence interval, -0.35 to 0.22, P = 0.644). For the secondary outcome, using APC did not result in additional complications regarding postoperative retinal detachment or the recurrence of MH.

CONCLUSION

The use of APC in vitrectomy was associated with a superior closure rate of the hole and no additional complications; therefore, it is effective and safe in MH surgery.

Full-Thickness Macular Hole Closure Following a Single Intravitreal Injection of Aflibercept in an Eye With Diabetic Macular Edema

Purpose:

This work aims to discuss the case of a 32-year-old man with diabetic macular edema (DME) who underwent successful treatment of a full-thickness macular hole (FTMH) with a single dose of aflibercept.

Methods:

A case report is presented.

Results:

A 32-year-old man with reduced vision and DME in the right eye was found to have a FTMH. The patient was scheduled for pars plana vitrectomy; however, following a single dose of intravitreal aflibercept, the FTMH closed and the patient avoided surgical intervention.

Conclusions:

FTMH formation in DME is a rare complication that typically requires surgical intervention. We present a case of FTMH closure after a single dose of intravitreal aflibercept, which to our knowledge is the first of its kind. This report highlights the importance of considering conservative treatment initially to avoid surgery.

Macular Holes: Main Clinical Presentations, Diagnosis, and Therapies

Macular holes are a spectrum of retinal diseases that comprehends full-thickness macular holes (FTMHs), refractory/recurrent macular holes, lamellar macular holes (LMHs), myopic macular holes (MMHs), traumatic macular holes, and macular holes secondary to other retinal pathologies or injuries. There are various classifications of the subtypes of macular hole, and only in recent times researchers defined a common nomenclature, especially thanks to the evolution in retinal imaging, offered by new instruments like the swept-source OCT. The proposed therapies for macular holes are different and range from a “wait-and-see” approach to the vitrectomy, with different results in each subtype of macular hole. This narrative review has the purpose to investigate the available evidence in literature to give a summary of the knowledge about these retinal pathologies.

Secondary Macular Holes Post Pars Plana Vitrectomy

Purpose

To report incidence, clinical presentation, and treatment outcome of full-thickness macular hole (FTMHs) diagnosed post pars plana vitrectomy.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed the demographics, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), indication for the primary vitrectomy, time to diagnose the secondary FTMH, optical coherence tomographic (OCT) appearance, and treatment outcome of FTMHs, occurring after vitrectomy performed between January 2019 and December 2020.

Results

Six of 523 vitrectomized eyes developed FTMHs, an incidence of 1.1%. There were five females and one male, mean age of 56.5 years (range 37–85). The indication for primary vitrectomy was rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) in three eyes, one eye each for sub internal limiting membrane hemorrhage from a ruptured macroaneurysm, vitreous hemorrhage from polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV), and pre-insertion of Ahmed glaucoma drainage device (GDD). FTMHs occurred within one week to three months after vitrectomy (time from primary vitrectomy to the identification of the secondary MH was a mean of 1.03 months). Mean BCVA in all six MH eyes was log MAR 0.9 (Snellen: 6/54). Anatomical closure was achieved after one surgery in three eyes, two surgeries in 1 eye, after photodynamic therapy (PDT) in the PCV eye, and one patient declined surgery. The mean BCVA in the four surgically closed MH eyes improved marginally from log MAR 0.82 (Snellen: 6/38) to log MAR 0.72 (Snellen: 6/30), mean follow-up 7.6 months.

Conclusion

Post-vitrectomy FTMH is rare, and RRD was the commonest indication for initial vitrectomy. We observed that all secondary MHs were closed successfully using the inverted internal limiting membrane (ILM) flap technique with limited improvement in vision. The visual outcome of these secondary MHs trails behind that of idiopathic MHs.

Surgical outcome of full-thickness macular hole secondary to tractional retinal detachment in proliferative diabetic retinopathy

Purpose:

To evaluate the surgical outcome of full-thickness macular hole (FTMH) secondary to active fibrovascular proliferation (FVP) and tractional retinal detachment (TRD) in eyes with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR), and factors influencing the outcome.

Methods:

This retrospective study included the patients who underwent vitrectomy for FTMH secondary to PDR TRD from 2016 to 2020. Anatomical and visual outcomes were analyzed after six months along with the factors predicting the final outcome and duration of subretinal fluid (SRF) resolution.

Results:

Group A (macula-off combined RD, i.e., tractional and rhegmatogenous) included 10 eyes, while group B (macula-threatening TRD) included eight eyes. The mean best-corrected visual acuity improved from logMAR 1.21 (Snellen equivalent: 20/324) to logMAR 0.76 (Snellen equivalent: 20/115) (P = 0.008). Seventeen patients gained ≥1 line(s) of vision. Mean visual gain in groups A and B was 3.7 ± 1.9 and 1.9 ± 1.1 lines, respectively (P = 0.051). MH closed in 88.9% eyes. Type 1 anatomical closure was achieved in 88.9% of eyes. At 6 months, SRF and central macular thickness reduced from 479.6 ± 512.5 μm to 11.4 ± 23.5 μm (P = 0.002) and 874.3 ± 422.6 μm to 207.6 ± 81.7 μm (P = 0.0002), respectively. Finally, macular SRF resolved in all the patients. The mean duration for complete SRF resolution was 4.9 ± 3.2 months. Eyes with a shorter duration of diabetes mellitus (rho = −0.49, P = 0.040) and macula-off combined RD (P = 0.048) took a longer time for complete SRF resolution.

Conclusion:

Good anatomical and visual outcomes can be achieved in eyes with PDR TRD-associated FTMH. The residual macular SRF resolves slowly after the surgery and extra intervention is not required. Macula-off combined RD is associated with worse outcome and a slower SRF resolution rate.

MACULAR HOLE ASSOCIATED WITH AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION: Pathogenesis and Surgical Outcomes

PURPOSE

To ascertain the pathogenesis of macular hole (MH) associated with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and its surgical outcomes.

METHODS

Patients with full-thickness MH associated with AMD (higher grades than intermediate) were enrolled. The mechanism of MH formation and closure rate after vitrectomy (surgical outcome) were determined using optical coherence tomography imaging.

RESULTS

The mechanism of MH formation (35 eyes) associated with AMD was classified into four types: vitreomacular traction (42.9%), gradual retinal thinning caused by subretinal drusen or pigment epithelial detachment (22.9%), massive subretinal hemorrhage (20.0%), and combined (14.3%). In the 41 eyes that underwent vitrectomy, the logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution best-corrected visual acuity improved from 0.82 (0.10-2.30) preoperative to 0.69 (0.10-2.30) postoperative (P = 0.001). Successful closure of the MH was achieved in 33 eyes (80.5%) after vitrectomy. No significant association was observed between the closure rate of MH after vitrectomy and mechanism of MH formation (P = 0.083).

CONCLUSION

The mechanism of MH formation associated with AMD was classified into four types and was not related to its surgical outcome. Considering visual improvement and surgical outcome after vitrectomy in our study, active surgical treatment can be considered for MH associated with AMD.

Successful Treatment of Full-Thickness Macular Hole in Polypoidal Choroidal Vasculopathy with Anti-VEGF Therapy

Purpose

To report a case of an 86-year-old man with a full thickness macular hole (FTMH) secondary to polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) treated with bevacizumab.

Methods

A retrospective case report is presented.

Results

An 86-year-old male presented with a five-month history of metamorphopsia and decreased vision in his right eye and was found to have active exudation secondary to PCV with a concurrent FTMH. After four treatments with intravitreal bevacizumab, the FTMH resolved without surgical intervention.

Conclusions

The patient's FTMH resolved with solely pharmacologic treatment as a result of treating his PCV with intravitreal bevacizumab. MH formation secondary to PCV is a rare finding, but may be successfully treated with pharmacologic therapy without surgical intervention.