[Shortening the duration of prone positioning after macular hole surgery--comparison between one week and one day].
OBJECTIVE
We shortened the duration of prone positioning after macular hole surgery from one week to one day and evaluated the initial hole closure rate.


METHODS
The first group included 34 eyes of 33 patients who underwent surgery between April 1998 and August 1999. All 33 patients were instructed to maintain the prone position for one week after surgery (one week group). The second group included 21 eyes of 21 patients who underwent surgery between September 1999 and March 2000. These 21 patients were told to maintain the prone position for 24 hours after surgery (one day group). The indication for surgery was eyes with the reported onset of symptoms within 6 months and without long-standing macular holes. Eyes which underwent retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) or internal limiting membrane (ILM) removal were excluded from the study. Phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation were combined in patients with phakic eyes. In the one day group, the patients were instructed to avoid the face up position for one week.


RESULTS
There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of preoperative factors, and initial hole closure rates (i.e., 91.2% in the one week and 90.5% in the one day groups).


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggests that the duration of prone positioning after macular hole surgery can be reduced to as little as 24 hours without RPE or ILM removal in eyes without long-standing holes.
Isomae
T
T
Department of Ophthalmology, Surugadai Hospital of Nihon University, 1-8-13 Kanda Surugadai, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-8309, Japan.
Sato
Y
Y
Shimada
H
H
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011184:Postoperative Period; D016684:Prone Position; D012167:Retinal Perforations / Q000601:surgery*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome