title: Correlation of preoperative retinal pigment epithelium status with foveal microstructure in repaired macular holes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate, with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography, if the preoperative status of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) affects the postoperative foveal morphology and visual outcomes in eyes with surgically closed macular holes (MHs).
  
  
  METHODS
  In 52 eyes with surgically closed MHs, preoperative RPE morphology was evaluated and graded based on the measurement of the largest hyperreflective protrusions above the RPE line. Foveal microstructural features and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) were evaluated 12 months after surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At 12 months, a significant correlation was found between postoperative degree of integrity of the photoreceptors with preoperative RPE morphology, and base diameter of the hole (p = 0.003 and p = 0.028, respectively); mean BCVA at 12 months in eyes with diffuse RPE alteration was significantly lower than in eyes with small or no RPE alteration (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Preoperative RPE integrity may be indicative of good photoreceptor restoration and visual recovery in patients with surgically closed MHs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reibaldi
authors.forename: Teresio
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Avitabile
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Longo
authors.forename: Maurizio Giacinto
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Uva
authors.forename: Vincenza
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bonfiglio
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.forename: Mario D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Toro
authors.forename: Santo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stella
authors.forename: Alfonso
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giovannini
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Viti
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nicolai
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saitta
authors.forename: Gilda
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cennamo
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gagliano
authors.forename: Cesare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mariotti
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005584:Fovea Centralis / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D057234:Preoperative Period; D012167:Retinal Perforations / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D055213:Retinal Pigment Epithelium / Q000473:pathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence / Q000379:methods; D014792:Visual Acuity; D014821:Vitrectomy