title: Long-term outcome of macular microstructure assessed by optical coherence tomography in eyes with spontaneous resolution of macular hole.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the long-term anatomic features as assessed by optical coherence tomography (OCT) in patients with spontaneously closed full-thickness macular hole (MH).
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective, noncomparative, observational case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six eyes of 6 patients who eventually showed spontaneous resolution of idiopathic MH were studied. The best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and OCT images of the fovea were examined before and until at least 3 years after spontaneous resolution.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The MH closed spontaneously 1 to 4 months after the initial examination. There were 2 distinct macular abnormalities in the early period after spontaneous closure: 4 eyes showed outer foveal defects and the remaining 2 eyes showed persistent foveal detachment. However, the fovea regained its normal configuration and the photoreceptor inner segment/outer segment (IS/OS) junction recovered completely in all eyes. Although all 6 eyes showed visual improvement after the hole closure, the BCVA in the 4 eyes that showed delayed recovery of the IS/OS junction and foveal detachment was limited to 20/25 or worse.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Spontaneous closure of MH could acquire complete anatomic reconstruction. However, delayed restoration of the IS/OS junction and persistent foveal detachment after spontaneous closure might influence the functional outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Yokohama City University Medical Center, Yokohama, Japan. maicoo@urahp.yokohama-cu.ac.jp
authors.forename: Maiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arakawa
authors.forename: Shin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yamane
authors.forename: Yoichiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Kazuaki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kadonosono
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D012075:Remission, Spontaneous; D012160:Retina / Q000473:pathology*; D012167:Retinal Perforations / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology