title: Macular hole: perceptual filling-in across central scotomas.
abstract: The present study examined perceptual distortions of a vertical line before and after macular hole (MH) surgery in 25 eyes of 24 patients. Participants' perceptual reports of distortions were classified as solid, bent right/left, thinned at the center, or broken. The majority of patients (72%) reported symmetrical distortions of the line pre-operatively. After surgery, participants with larger MHs were more likely to retain residual distortions. Of particular interest is the group reporting thinning of the line preoperatively, as the center should be perceptually missing. Examination of MH diameters in relation to the line perceptions indicated that the shape of the perceived line can be explained at the retinal level, while its continuity must be perceptually created at the cortical level.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Sir Mortimer B Davis Jewish General Hospital, Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Pavilion E-008, 3755 Cote-Sainte-Catherine, Montreal, Que, Canada. walterwittich@sympatico.ca
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wittich
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Overbury
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Kapusta
authors.forename: Donald H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Jocelyn
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Faubert
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005556:Form Perception; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010469:Perceptual Distortion; D011184:Postoperative Period; D012167:Retinal Perforations / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D014792:Visual Acuity; D014821:Vitrectomy