title: Management options for early stages of acutely symptomatic macular holes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate management options for acutely symptomatic stage I macular holes, and vitrectomy with intraocular gas tamponade for advanced stage I macular holes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective noncomparative study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Acutely symptomatic stage I macular holes. MANAGEMENT OPTIONS: (I) spontaneous resolution with observation -7 eyes; (II) stage I holes developing poor visual acuity of 20/50 or worse during observation -9 eyes undergoing pars plana vitrectomy, posterior vitreous separation, fluid -20% sulfur hexafluoride gas exchange; (III) stage I holes acutely progressing to stage II or III during observation -9 eyes with vitrectomy, posterior vitreous separation, membrane peel, fluid -18% perfluoropropane gas exchange.
  
  
  METHODS
  visual acuity of 20/40 of better, prevention, or closure of macular hole.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Spontaneous resolution developed in 7 eyes with 20/40 or better vision (group I). 8/9 eyes undergoing vitrectomy for advanced stage I holes (group II) did not progress and recovered 20/40 or better vision. 1/9 recovered 20/40 vision after further surgery. 9/9 eyes following acute progression to full-thickness holes (group III) had closed macular holes with recovery of 20/40 vision after vitrectomy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Stage I macular holes can initially be observed. However, excellent visual and surgical results can be obtained in stage I holes with poor vision, or with acute progression to full-thickness holes.
authors.affiliation: Division of Ophthalmology, Department of Surgery, University of Hawaii School of Medicine, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA. retinahi@aol.com
authors.forename: Gregg T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Kokame
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D012075:Remission, Spontaneous; D012167:Retinal Perforations / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013459:Sulfur Hexafluoride / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014054:Tomography; D014792:Visual Acuity; D014821:Vitrectomy
chemical_list: D005466:Fluorocarbons; C042852:perflutren; D013459:Sulfur Hexafluoride