Correlation between central retinal thickness after successful macular hole surgery and visual outcome

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the correlation between central retinal thickness (CRT) after vitreous surgery and final visual outcome in eyes with idiopathic macular holes (MH).

Methods: A prospective analysis was performed of patients who had undergone surgical treatment for MH. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) parameters including CRT, minimum and base diameters of the MHs were analyzed pre- and postoperatively. The relationships between final visual outcome and the OCT parameters were examined by single and multiple regression analysis.

Results: Forty-one MHs cases were successfully closed postoperatively. BCVA gradually improved, and CRT decreased during the observation period following MH surgery. There were significant positive correlations between CRT at 1 month and visual acuity at 12 months after vitreous surgery (P < 0.0001). MH diameter was positively correlated with CRT at 1 month after surgery and negatively with postoperative visual acuity.

Conclusions: CRT at 1 month after MH surgery was related to preoperative MH diameter and visual acuity at 12 months postoperatively. Our data suggest that the increased CRT at the early postoperative period may result in better visual prognosis.

Keywords: Macular hole; Macular thickness; Optical coherence tomography; Vitrectomy.