Purpose
The aim of this paper is to evaluate the retinal structure after macular hole surgery and to study the correlation of structural
findings with final functional outcomes, using high-speed, high-resolution spectral optical coherence tomography (SOCT).
Methods
Sixty-eight eyes of 60 patients with full-thickness macular holes were included in the study. All patients underwent pars
plana vitrectomy with trypan blue staining and internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling. Patients were evaluated by SOCT,
with 6 μm axial and 12–18 μm transverse resolution and three-dimensional images of the retina.
Results
There were four different types of macular hole closure: U-shape, V-shape, irregular and flat/open. The following retinal
abnormalities were observed in postoperative scans: photoreceptor irregularities, lack of photoreceptors (photoreceptor defect),
cysts in outer retinal layers, nerve fiber layer defects, lesion of all retinal layers, and RPE defects. It was possible to
evaluate photoreceptor defects on a three-dimensional image. Retinal thickness in the fovea was also measured.
Conclusions
Because of excellent resolution, SOCT is capable of visualization of retinal defects after macular hole surgery. Three-dimensional
examination is adequate for evaluation of photoreceptor defects. Good postoperative visual acuity is correlated with U-shape
closure, normal foveal thickness and absence of photoreceptor layer defects.
Keywords Macular hole - Spectral optical coherence tomography (SOCT) - Optical coherence tomography (OCT)
The contents of this manuscript were presented at the annual meeting 2007 of the German Ophthalmological Society (DOG) and
at the annual meeting 2007 of the American Society of Retina Specialists (ASRS).
The authors have no financial interest in this study.
The authors have full control of all primary data, and they agree to allow Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental
Ophthalmology to review their data upon request.