Secondary full thickness macular holes following vitrectomy for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment: Clinical data, surgical outcome and prognosis

Abstract

Aims/Purpose: Formation of a full‐thickness macular hole (MH) after vitrectomy is extremely rare. Previous studies only included small numbers of cases. Aim of the present study was to describe course, functional prognosis and risk factors of secondary macular hole development following surgical treatment of a primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) in a large data set from two tertiary eye clinics.Methods: Formation of a full‐thickness macular hole (MH) after vitrectomy is extremely rare. Previous studies only included small numbers of cases. Aim of the present study was to describe course, functional prognosis and risk factors of secondary macular hole development following surgical treatment of a primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) in a large data set from two tertiary eye clinics.Results: Out of 9317 eyes following PPV 28 eyes (mean age 58.7 ± 9.6 yrs, 50% male, 60.7% right eyes) could be included. The interval between vitrectomy and MH formation was 46.9 ± 80.3 (range: 1–373) months. 15 eyes showed history of macular involving RRD, 7 macular sparing RRD. Sulphur‐hexafluoride (SF6) 20–25% was used as endotamponade in 18 cases for RRD repair, silicone oil (Sil5000® and Sil2000®) in 4 cases. Six cases were not assessable due to earlier external surgery. In secondary MH re‐PPV with SF6 20–25% endotamponade in 21 eyes (thereof with an ILM flap in 8 cases), Sil5000® in 6 eyes and Densiron® in one eye was performed. A primary closure rate of 88.2% with gas was achieved with a final best corrected visual acuity of 0.67 ± 0.99 logMAR. Degree of myopia, which correlated with functional results (p = 0.019) and earlier time of onset (p = 0.007), as well as timing of cataract surgery (p < 0.001) could be identified as risk factor for secondary MH development.Conclusions: Secondary MH after RRD repair is rare. In our study with the largest cohort studied so far, we can identify risk factors that lead to earlier MH formation. Myopia was shown to be a prognostic factor for functional outcome.