title: Macular structure on optical coherence tomography after lamellar macular hole surgery and its correlation with visual outcome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report macular structure on optical coherence tomography (OCT) after lamellar macular hole surgery and its relationship with visual outcome.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective interventional case series; private practice setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve patients diagnosed with a lamellar hole who had undergone vitrectomy and who had OCT scanning before and after surgery and at least 6 months follow-up were included.
  
  
  METHODS
  Surgery consisted of 25 g vitrectomy, peeling of epiretinal and internal limiting membrane, fluid/air/gas exchange, and 2 weeks of face-down positioning.
  
  
  RESULTS
  OCT showed an epiretinal membrane in all cases. After a mean follow-up of 16.7 months, VA improved by ≥2 lines in nine patients and remained stable in three. There was a complete closure of the lamellar hole in ten patients; in four a retinal pseudocyst was found during the healing process, resolving spontaneously in two and persisting in the other two after 8 and 9 months, respectively. Two patients developed a full-thickness macular hole that closed successfully after surgical repair. All patients had a VA ≥ 20/32 at the end of follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Epiretinal membranes appear to have a role in the pathogenesis of lamellar macular holes. Vitrectomy is a useful technique to obtain closure of the lamellar hole and visual improvement. The presence of a retinal pseudocyst is a common feature during the healing process and is compatible with a favorable visual outcome. A full-thickness macular hole is a severe and not uncommon complication of this procedure.
authors.affiliation: Vissum Premium Mirasierra, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Marta S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Figueroa
authors.forename: Susana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Noval
authors.forename: Inés
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Contreras
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001485:Basement Membrane / Q000601:surgery; D058450:Endotamponade; D019773:Epiretinal Membrane / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016684:Prone Position; D012167:Retinal Perforations / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology*; D014821:Vitrectomy
chemical_list: D005466:Fluorocarbons; C042852:perflutren