Irregularity of photoreceptor layer after successful macular hole surgery prevents visual acuity improvement.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the association between a photoreceptor irregularity and visual acuity (VA) after macular hole (MH) surgery.


METHODS
Prospective observational case series.


METHODS
Twenty-four eyes with an idiopathic MH that resolved after vitreous surgery were examined by new optical coherence tomography (OCT 3000). The images were divided into regular photoreceptor, detected as a straight line above the retinal pigment epithelium reflex, and irregular, which cannot be detected by it.


RESULTS
Regular images were observed in 12 eyes (80%) and irregular images in 3 eyes (20%) with good VA (>or=0.7). Regular images were seen in 3 eyes (33%) and irregular images in 6 eyes (67%) with poor VA (<0.7). The percentage of regular images in the group with good VA was significantly higher than that in the group with poor VA (P <.05).


CONCLUSIONS
A photoreceptor irregularity after MH surgery may prevent VA improvement.
Department of Ophthalmology, Asahikawa Medical College, Asahikawa, Japan.
Norihiko
N
Kitaya
Taiichi
T
Hikichi
Hiroyuki
H
Kagokawa
Akira
A
Takamiya
Atsushi
A
Takahashi
Akitoshi
A
Yoshida
D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020419:Photoreceptor Cells, Vertebrate / Q000473:pathology*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012167:Retinal Perforations / Q000601:surgery*; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology*; D014821:Vitrectomy