title: The natural history of lamellar macular holes: a spectral domain optical coherence tomography study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To study the evolution of lamellar macular holes (LMHs) using spectral domain-optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT).
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-four consecutive patients diagnosed with a LMH were followed prospectively at Sacco University Hospital from October 2008 to January 2011. Inclusion criteria were a foveal defect on SD-OCT with residual foveal tissue above the retinal pigment epithelium and corresponding hyperautofluorescence on fundus autofluorescence imaging. Epiretinal membranes (ERMs) were categorized by SD-OCT at baseline as two different types: normal and thicker than normal. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and SD-OCT findings were collected and compared at baseline and every 6 months thereafter. Active eye tracking technology ensured that the same scanning location was identified on follow-up visits. Main outcome measures were visual acuity changes (Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy charts) and progression of the lamellar macular defect. The influence of ERM type on disease progression was also evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patients included 15 males and 19 females with a mean age of 73 years and mean refraction of -0.25 diopters. The mean follow-up period was 18 months (range 6 to 24 months). BCVA at baseline (±standard deviation) was 63 ± 6 letters and did not change significantly during the follow-up period (P = 0.256). Foveal thickness at baseline, 180 ± 29 μm, was also stable (P = 0.592). All eyes had an ERM at baseline. Both thicker and normal ERMs showed similar functional and morphological evolution during follow-up with no significant changes. Two LMHs (5.8 %) developed a full thickness macular hole after 6 and 15 months follow-up respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lamellar macular holes seem to be a stable macular condition. Vitrectomy should be considered only in the presence of progressive thinning of foveal thickness and/or decrease of visual acuity during the follow-up of the disease.
authors.affiliation: Eye Clinic, Department of Clinical Science Luigi Sacco, Sacco Hospital, University of Milan, Via Andrea Verga 8, 20144, Milano, Italy. ferdinando.bottoni@fastwebnet.it
authors.forename: Ferdinando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bottoni
authors.forename: Antonio Peroglio
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Deiro
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giani
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Orini
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cigada
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Staurenghi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019773:Epiretinal Membrane / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012029:Refraction, Ocular / Q000502:physiology; D012167:Retinal Perforations / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D055211:Retinal Photoreceptor Cell Inner Segment / Q000473:pathology; D055214:Retinal Photoreceptor Cell Outer Segment / Q000473:pathology; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology