Course of vitreomacular traction syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
Although the course of vitreomacular traction syndrome is necessary to treat patients or to establish the value of the surgical technique, little information is available about its course. In this study, we ascertained the natural history of vitreomacular traction syndrome.


METHODS
We retrospectively studied 53 consecutive symptomatic eyes with vitreomacular traction syndrome.


RESULTS
In 43 (81%) of 53 eyes with cystoid macular changes at the diagnostic examination, 29 (67%) of 43 had cystoid changes that persisted during the median follow-up period of 60 months. The visual acuities at the time of the final examination decreased two Snellen lines or more from the initial measurement in 34 (64%) of 53 eyes. During the follow-up period, six (11%) of 53 eyes developed complete posterior vitreous detachment. The number of eyes with resolved cystoid changes or stable visual acuity was significantly higher when complete vitreomacular separation occurred (six of six) than when it did not (three [8%] of 37, P = .01; 13 [28%] of 47, P = .01).


CONCLUSIONS
Most symptomatic eyes with vitreomacular traction syndrome underwent a further decrease in visual acuity. Complete vitreomacular separation, which occurs infrequently in eyes with the disorder, allows resolution of cystoid changes and improvement of visual acuity.
Hikichi
T
T
Schepens Eye Research Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
Yoshida
A
A
Trempe
C L
CL
D000368:Aged; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008266:Macula Lutea; D008269:Macular Edema / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013577:Syndrome; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D014792:Visual Acuity; D014822:Vitreous Body