A macular hole is a condition where a circular opening or break forms in the macula. The macula is the central part of the retina and is responsible for sharp, central vision, which is necessary for tasks like reading and driving.
How is macular hole formed?
The primary cause of a macular hole is age-related changes in the vitreous, the gel-like substance that fills the eye. As people age, the vitreous can shrink and pull away from the retina, leading to a tear or hole in the macula. Trauma, high degrees of nearsightedness/ myopia and other eye conditions can also contribute to the development of a macular hole.
What are the symptoms of macular hole?
A macular hole can cause blurred or distorted vision, especially in the center of your field of view. A macular hole can also lead to a dark or blind spot in the center of your vision over time.
How is macular hole diagnosed?
A macular hole is diagnosed by an eye doctor who will perform a thorough eye exam, including a dilated pupil and a slit-lamp examination of the fundus, which is the back surface of the eye. The eye doctor may also use an optical coherence tomography (OCT) test, which is a noninvasive and painless procedure that uses light waves to create detailed images of the retina. The OCT test can show if there is a break in all layers of the retina or only in some layers.
How do the doctors treat macular hole?
The treatment of a macular hole depends on its size and severity. For small holes, close observation with regular eye exams may be sufficient as they may close spontaneously.
But for larger holes surgery known as Vitrectomy is recommended. It involves removal the vitreous gel that is pulling on the macula and causing the hole to grow. A thin membrane known as internal limiting membrane is removed from macular area and a small part of it is sometimes used to the macular hole.At the end of the surgery,a gas bubble is injected into the eye, which helps to hold the retina in place and allow the hole to heal.
It takes about a month of gas bubble to absorb and vision to gradually improve after the surgery
If a macular hole is not treated, it can lead to permanent vision loss. However, with early diagnosis and treatment, the success rate for repairing a macular hole is high and can help to preserve vision.
If you have any symptoms or risk factors for a macular hole, such as age, female gender, myopia, trauma, or eye inflammation, you should see an eye doctor as soon as possible for diagnosis and treatment. Early detection and intervention can improve your chances of having good vision outcomes after surgery.