title: Development of macular pseudoholes: a 36-month period of follow-up.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the changes in visual acuity and macular sensitivity and the possible evolution into a full-thickness macular hole in patients with macular pseudoholes during a 3-year follow-up period.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-seven eyes (mean age, 61.0 +/- 8.9 years) with macular pseudoholes were enrolled. They were compared with 16 eyes from 16 age-matched control eyes. In each eye with a macular pseudohole, we assessed the Snellen visual acuity and macular sensitivity by scanning laser ophthalmoscopic central (1-2 degrees of the macula, SLO-CM) and paracentral (annular area from 2-7 degrees from the macula, SLO-PM) microperimetry at the time of diagnosis (baseline condition) and every 6 months for 3 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eyes with macular pseudoholes at baseline had a significant (P < 0.05) reduction in visual acuity, SLO-CM, and SLO-PM when compared with control eyes. After 12 months of follow-up, no changes in VA, SLO-CM, or SLO-PM were observed in eyes with macular pseudoholes with respect to the baseline values. After 36 months of follow-up, further significant (P < 0.05) decreases in visual acuity, SLO-CM, and SLO-PM were observed. One third of eyes with macular pseudoholes showed an evolution into a full-thickness macular hole. In these eyes, the lowest SLO-CM had been observed at the baseline condition.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests that in the 36-month follow-up period in eyes with macular pseudoholes, there is the possibility of a worsening trend, leading to the development of a full-thickness macular hole. A useful role of the functional assessment by SLO-CM and SLO-PM can be suggested for the clinical diagnosis and the follow-up of macular pseudoholes.
authors.affiliation: Fondazione per l'Oftalmologia G.B. Bietti, Rome, Italy. md2180@mclink.it
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Varano
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Scassa
authors.forename: NicolettaI
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Capaldo
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sciamanna
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Parisi
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D006801:Humans; D007834:Lasers; D008266:Macula Lutea / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009887:Ophthalmoscopy; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D012167:Retinal Perforations / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D014792:Visual Acuity; D058609:Visual Field Tests