title: AIR TAMPONADE COMBINED WITH NONSUPINE POSITIONING IN MACULAR HOLE SURGERY FOR PSEUDOPHAKIC EYES.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the closure rate of primary full-thickness macular hole, following intraocular air tamponade combined with a nonsupine positioning regimen.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective study of patients with full-thickness macular hole, who underwent pars plana vitrectomy with internal limiting membrane peeling and intraocular air tamponade followed by 3 days of nonsupine positioning. Outcome measures were primary full-thickness macular hole closure and improvement in best-corrected visual acuity after 6 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 34 eyes were included. In the group of full-thickness macular hole ≤400 μm, primary closure occurred in 95% (19/20), whereas only 57% (8/14) of those >400 μm closed (P = 0.01). The mean gain in best-corrected visual acuity was 3.5 ETDRS (Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study) lines (SD = 1.5) (P < 0.01). The air bubble meniscus height at the first postoperative day was estimated to a mean of 59% (range, 50-70%), at the second postoperative day it was 46% (range, 40-55%), and the third day it was 39% (range, 30-45%). Mean intraocular air bubble duration was 10 days (range, 8-13 days).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The combination of air tamponade and nonsupine positioning regimen leads to high closure rates for small/medium macular holes (≤400 μm), but not for large macular holes (>400 μm).
authors.affiliation: *Department of Ophthalmology, Stavanger University Hospital, Stavanger, Norway; †Department of Clinical Medicine, Section of Ophthalmology, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway; and ‡Department of Ophthalmology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Vegard A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Forsaa
authors.forename: Jørgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Krohn
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D058450:Endotamponade / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D056888:Patient Positioning; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019591:Pseudophakia; D012167:Retinal Perforations / Q000601:surgery*; D014792:Visual Acuity; D014821:Vitrectomy / Q000379:methods*