Natural history of lamellar macular holes in highly myopic eyes

Abstract

Purpose: To determine the natural course of lamellar macular holes (MHs) in highly myopic eyes.

Design: Prospective and observational case series.

Methods: Twenty-four eyes of 21 consecutive patients with a lamellar MH and high myopia (myopic refractive error >8 diopters or axial length ≥26.5 mm) were followed for ≥12 months. The changes of the optical coherence tomography (OCT) findings and the best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) were analyzed. The progression of the lamellar MH to a full-thickness MH and the change of the BCVA were analyzed.

Results: At the initial examination, an epiretinal membrane was identified by OCT in 17 of the 24 eyes (70.8%) and 7 eyes (29.2%) had macular retinoschisis. Twenty-three of 24 eyes (95.8%) did not show any changes of the lamellar MH in the OCT images during a mean follow-up of 19.2 ± 10.2 months. However, the remaining eye progressed to a full-thickness MH and pars plana vitrectomy was required to close the MH. Except for this 1 eye, the BCVA was maintained (within 0.2 logMAR change) during the follow-up period of at least 1 year.

Conclusions: A lamellar MH in highly myopic eyes is a relatively stable condition.