Peripheral visual field defects after macular hole surgery: a complication with decreasing incidence.
OBJECTIVE
To prospectively evaluate peripheral visual fields after vitrectomy for idiopathic macular holes.


METHODS
Goldmann perimetry was performed in 105 patients before, as well as 6 weeks and 12 months after macular hole surgery.


RESULTS
Only one patient (< 1%) with a stage III macular hole developed an asymptomatic postoperative visual field defect. The scotoma was wedge-shaped, peripherally located in the temporal quadrant, and remained unchanged during the following 12 months.


CONCLUSIONS
Peripheral visual field defects after macular hole surgery can be a complication of very low incidence. A rather low pressure set during air-fluid exchange as well as special aspects of the surgical technique may be responsible for this low incidence of peripheral visual field defects.
Gass
C A
CA
Department of Ophthalmology, Ludwig-Maximilians- University, Mathildenstrasse 8, D-80336 Munich, Germany. carolin.gass@ak-i.med.uni-muenchen.de
Haritoglou
C
C
Messmer
E M
EM
Schaumberger
M
M
Kampik
A
A
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012167:Retinal Perforations / Q000145:classification / Q000601:surgery*; D012607:Scotoma / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D058609:Visual Field Tests; D014794:Visual Fields / Q000502:physiology*; D014821:Vitrectomy / Q000379:methods*