Abstract
Purpose::
We evaluated the relationship between the long-term visual acuity(VA) improvement after successful macular hole surgery using optical coherence tomography(OCT) findings.
Methods::
Postoperative OCT scans were analyzed retrospectively in 9 eyes of 8 patients who had been operated for idiopathic macular hole and showed long-term visual acuity(VA) improvement more than log-MAR 3 lines. Raw files of horizontal and vertical OCT scans just after absorption of intraocular gas and after VA improvement were exported to be processed. Parameters including central foveal thickness, photoreceptor layer thickness, photoreceptor layer reflectivity and area of photoreceptor layer defect were compared before and after improvement
Results::
When intraocular gas was resolved, median VA was 0.2(0.15~0.3), which improved to 0.5(0.3~1.0) after 13 months in average. Mean central foveal thickness decreased from 221.3(155~265)µm to 191.2(150~231)µm (p=0.007). Mean photoreceptor layer thickness increased from 15.2(4.2~27.6)µm to 22.7(4.2~35.8)µm (p=0.032) and mean relative reflectivity of photoreceptor layer increased from 0.43(0.08~0.67) to 0.48(0.10~0.70, p=0.415). Defect of photoreceptor layer decreased from 70(90~45)% to 27(85~5)% (p=0.001).
Conclusions::
Central foveal thickness and photoreceptor layer defect decreased on OCT in long-term vision improvement after successful macular hole surgery.
Keywords: macular holes • macula/fovea • imaging methods (CT, FA, ICG, MRI, OCT, RTA, SLO, ultrasound)