Gender Difference in Prevalent Full-Thickness Macular Holes in Tromsø

Abstract

Purpose: : To investigate the prevalence of full-thickness macular holes in Tromsø, North Norway.

Methods: : The 6^th Tromsø Study (2007-2008) is a multipurpose cross-sectional health survey of the population aged 30 years and above in the municipality of Tromsø. The survey was conducted in two stages, and eye examinations were included in the second stage where 7307 participants aged 38-87 attended (92%). The eye examinations included visual acuity, digital colour fundus photography and optical coherence tomography (OCT). In this study, full-thickness macular holes were classified in fundus photographs from participants aged 50-87 years. The present investigation consisted of 12148 gradable eyes from 6218 participants.

Results: : Full-thickness macular holes were found in 6 eyes from 6 different participants. All macular holes identified in fundus photographs were verified by OCT. All 6 participants with macular holes were women. Two of the macular holes had been diagnosed previously by an ophthalmologist.

Conclusions: : Full-thickness macular holes may be present in approximately 9.7 out of 10,000 in the elderly population of Tromsø. Our data suggest that approximately 2/3 of the full-thickness macular holes in our population may be undiagnosed. The gender distribution confirms previous studies of female preponderance of macular holes.

Keywords: macular holes • clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: prevalence/incidence