TIMING AND OUTCOME OF SURGERY FOR PERSISTENT MACULAR HOLE

Abstract

Purpose: 

To evaluate the efficacy and optimum timing for resurgery in case of persistent macular hole (MH).

Methods: 

Twenty-five eyes of 25 patients who underwent fluid–air exchange with intravitreal C₃F₈ for persistent MH after vitrectomy + internal limiting membrane peeling + SF₆ were included in the study. Best-corrected visual acuity, optical coherence tomography features including base diameter and configuration of MH, and time duration between the two surgeries were noted.

Results: 

Patients who underwent resurgery within 3 months of the first surgery had better anatomical closure rate compared with those who underwent resurgery after 3 months (P < 0.05). Significant improvement was seen in best-corrected visual acuity in eyes with closed MH. Eyes having MH with irregular edges on optical coherence tomography had better anatomical closure rates compared with the eyes having MH with round edges.

Conclusion: 

Patients undergoing repeat gas injection within 3 months of the primary surgery for persistent MH have better anatomical closure rates compared with late intervention.

In Brief

This study evaluates the optimum timing for resurgery for persistent macular hole. There was a significantly better anatomical success noted in patients who were operated within 3 months of primary surgery compared with those who were operated after 3 months of primary surgery.