title: Topical medication interferes with face-down positioning after macular hole surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate whether different procedures of topical medication interfere with postoperative face-down positioning and thereby influence the anatomical success rate of macular hole surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 39 consecutive eyes with macular holes were operated with vitrectomy and fluid-gas exchange, followed by face-down positioning for 1 week. Postoperatively, the procedures for topical medication differed between two consecutive groups of patients. In the first group (16 patients), a conventional postoperative regimen of topical antibiotics and steroids was administered as eye drops six times daily. In the second group (23 patients), topical medication was administered as ointments once daily, while the patients kept their heads straight forwards and looked slightly downwards.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The macular hole closed successfully in 10 (62.5%) of the 16 eyes in the eye drop group, and in 21 (91.3%) of the 23 eyes in the ointment group (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study indicates that frequent postoperative administration of eye drops reduces the success rate of macular hole surgery. To prevent patients from looking upwards during the instillation of topical antibiotics and steroids, the use of ointments is recommended.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Bergen, Haukeland University Hospital, Norway. jorgen.krohn@helse-bergen.no
authors.forename: Jørgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Krohn
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002701:Chloramphenicol / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009824:Ointments / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D016684:Prone Position; D012167:Retinal Perforations / Q000601:surgery*; D014792:Visual Acuity; D014821:Vitrectomy; D014945:Wound Healing
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D005466:Fluorocarbons; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D009824:Ointments; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D002701:Chloramphenicol; D003907:Dexamethasone; C042852:perflutren