|
Macular Hole Resource GuideRelated Topics: On this page:
The information provided in this Resource Guide was developed by the National Eye Institute (NEI) to help patients and their families search for general information about macular hole. An eye care professional who has examined the patient's eyes and is familiar with his or her medical history is the best person to answer specific questions.
Other NamesMacular cyst, retinal hole, retinal tear, and retinal perforation.
What is a macular hole?A macular hole is a small break in the macula, located in the center of the eye's light-sensitive tissue called the retina. The macula provides the sharp, central vision we need for reading, driving, and seeing fine detail. A macular hole can cause blurred and distorted central vision. Macular holes are related to aging and usually occur in people over age 60. 
Is a macular hole the same as age-related macular degeneration?No. Macular holes and age-related macular degeneration are two separate and distinct conditions, although the symptoms for each are similar. Both conditions are common in people 60 and over. An eye care professional will know the difference.
What causes a macular hole?Most of the eye's interior is filled with vitreous, a gel-like substance that fills about 80 percent of the eye and helps it maintain a round shape. The vitreous contains millions of fine fibers that are attached to the surface of the retina. As we age, the vitreous slowly shrinks and pulls away from the retinal surface. Natural fluids fill the area where the vitreous has contracted. This is normal. In most cases, there are no adverse effects. Some patients may experience a small increase in floaters, which are little "cobwebs" or specks that seem to float about in your field of vision. However, if the vitreous is firmly attached to the retina when it pulls away, it can tear the retina and create a macular hole. Also, once the vitreous has pulled away from the surface of the retina, some of the fibers can remain on the retinal surface and can contract. This increases tension on the retina and can lead to a macular hole. In either case, the fluid that has replaced the shrunken vitreous can then seep through the hole onto the macula, blurring and distorting central vision. Macular holes can also occur from eye disorders, such as high myopia (nearsightedness), macular pucker, and retinal detachment; eye disease, such diabetic retinopathy and Best's disease; and injury to the eye.
What are the symptoms of a macular hole?Macular holes often begin gradually. In the early stage of a macular hole, people may notice a slight distortion or blurriness in their straight-ahead vision. Straight lines or objects can begin to look bent or wavy. Reading and performing other routine tasks with the affected eye become difficult.
Are there different types of a macular hole?Yes. There are three stages to a macular hole:
The size of the hole and its location on the retina determine how much it will affect a person's vision. When a Stage III macular hole develops, most central and detailed vision can be lost. If left untreated, a macular hole can lead to a detached retina, a sight-threatening condition that should receive immediate medical attention.
How is a macular hole treated?Although some macular holes can seal themselves and require no treatment, surgery is necessary in many cases to help improve vision. In this surgical procedure--called a vitrectomy--the vitreous gel is removed to prevent it from pulling on the retina and replaced with a bubble containing a mixture of air and gas. The bubble acts as an internal, temporary bandage that holds the edge of the macular hole in place as it heals. Surgery is performed under local anesthesia and often on an out-patient basis. Following surgery, patients must remain in a face-down position, normally for a day or two but sometimes for as long as two-to-three weeks. This position allows the bubble to press against the macula and be gradually reabsorbed by the eye, sealing the hole. As the bubble is reabsorbed, the vitreous cavity refills with natural eye fluids. Maintaining a face-down position is crucial to the success of the surgery. Because this position can be difficult for many people, it is important to discuss this with your doctor before surgery.
What are the risks of surgery?The most common risk following macular hole surgery is an increase in the rate of cataract development. In most patients, a cataract can progress rapidly, and often becomes severe enough to require removal. Other less common complications include infection and retinal detachment either during surgery or afterward, both of which can be immediately treated. For a few months after surgery, patients are not permitted to travel by air. Changes in air pressure may cause the bubble in the eye to expand, increasing pressure inside the eye.
How successful is this surgery?Vision improvement varies from patient to patient. People that have had a macular hole for less than six months have a better chance of recovering vision than those who have had one for a longer period. Discuss vision recovery with your doctor before your surgery. Vision recovery can continue for as long as three months after surgery.
What if I cannot remain in a face-down position after the surgery?If you cannot remain in a face-down position for the required period after surgery, vision recovery may not be successful. People who are unable to remain in a face-down position for this length of time may not be good candidates for a vitrectomy. However, there are a number of devices that can make the "face-down" recovery period easier on you. There are also some approaches that can decrease the amount of "face-down" time. Discuss these with your doctor.
Is my other eye at risk?If a macular hole exists in one eye, there is a 10-15 percent chance that a macular hole will develop in your other eye over your lifetime. Your doctor can discuss this with you. ResearchResearch studies are being conducted to determine other treatments for macular holes. Currently the research is looking at using silicon oil to close the macular hole instead of the gas bubble that is being used now. No definite conclusions have been reached at this time.
Other ResourcesThe following organization may be able to provide additional information on macular holes: American Academy of Ophthalmology For additional information, you may also wish to contact a local library. 
Medical LiteratureBelow is a sample of the citations available in MEDLINE, a comprehensive medical literature database coordinated by the National Library of Medicine (NLM). MEDLINE contains information on medical journal articles published from 1966 to the present. You can conduct your own free literature search by accessing MEDLINE through the Internet at http://medlineplus.nlm.nih.gov. You can also get assistance with a literature search at a local library. To obtain copies of any of the articles listed below, contact a local community, university, or medical library. If the library you visit does not have a copy of a particular article, you may usually obtain it through an inter-library loan. Please keep in mind that articles in the medical literature are usually written in technical language. We encourage you to share any articles you order with a health care professional who can help you understand them. Surgical management of macular holes: a report by the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Benson WE, Cruickshanks KC, Fong DS, Williams GA, Bloome MA, Frambach DA, Kreiger AE, Murphy RP. Ophthalmology 2001; 108(7):1328-1335 Macular hole surgery in 2000. Margherio AR. Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, Grand Rapids, MI. Current Opinion in Ophthalmology 2000; 11(3):186-90. Complications of macular hole surgery. Javid CG; Lou PL. Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, MA. International Ophthalmology Clinics 2000; 40(1):225-32. Macular hole. University of Pennsylvania Scheie Eye Institute, Retina Service, Philadelphia, PA. Survey of Ophthalmology 1998; 42(5):393-416. The National Eye Institute (NEI), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is the Federal government's principal agency for conducting and supporting vision research. Inclusion of an item in this Information Resource Guide does not imply the endorsement of the NEI or the NIH. This page was last modified in December 2006 This information has been provided by The National Eye Institute (NEI)). |