Spontaneous closure of traumatic macular hole

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the mechanism by which traumatic macular hole closes spontaneously.

Design: Consecutive observational case series of three patients with unilateral traumatic macular hole who consulted medical staff at the Kansai Medical University between 1997 and 2000.

Methods: Three patients who sustained unilateral blunt trauma to the eye and developed traumatic macular hole were followed with ophthalmic examination, fundus photography, fluorescein angiography, and optical coherence tomography (OCT).

Results: Case 1 was an 11-year-old boy. He had neither a macular hole nor prominent macular edema at his first consultation, but a macular hole opened 3 weeks later. OCT showed macular edema and a full-thickness macular hole. The tissue around the edge of the macular hole protruded inward toward the center and finally closed spontaneously 18 weeks later. Case 2 was a 19-year-old man. He had a tiny rough-edged macular hole at his first consultation with a local ophthalmologist. OCT showed macular hole enlargement and worsening of the macular edema during follow up. The macular hole finally closed 4 months after injury. Case 3 was a 15-year-old boy. He had a tiny rough-edged macular hole at his first consultation with a local ophthalmologist. The macular hole finally closed 6 months after injury.

Conclusion: Macular hole can be a result of severe damage from ocular concussion or damage to the retina. For 6 months following injury, traumatic macular hole should probably be observed rather than surgically repaired, because of the possibility that the macular hole may close spontaneously.