title: [Natural outcome of idiopathic macular hole].
abstract: To ascertain the natural outcome of idiopathic macular holes, we studied 186 eyes with the disorder: stages 1 (48 eyes), 2 (30 eyes), 3 (71 eyes), and 4 (37 eyes), which were followed for over twelve months. In 11 (23%) eyes with stage 1 lesions full-thickness macular hole developed during the follow-up period, and in 12 (25%) eyes visual acuity decreased two or more Snellen lines. Twenty-five (83%) and 21 (70%) eyes with stage 2 lesions, 39 (55%) and 22 (31%) eyes with stage 3 lesions, and 7 (19%) and 5 (14%) eyes with stage 4 lesions had enlarged macular holes and decreased visual acuity during the follow-up, respectively. The present results suggest that different stages of macular holes have different natural outcomes and the treatment should be based on their stages.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Asahikawa Medical College, Hokkaido, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hikichi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Akiba
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Trempe
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012167:Retinal Perforations / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014792:Visual Acuity