Foveal structure defined by spectral domain optical coherence tomography correlates with visual function after macular hole surgery.

PURPOSE

To study the correlation between final visual acuity after successful anatomic macular hole repair and features on spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT).

METHODS

Retrospective review of charts of patients who underwent macular hole surgery. Data collection included pre- and postoperative best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central subfield foveal thickness (CSFT), and presence or absence of inner segment-outer segment (IS-OS) line changes on SD-OCT. Data collected from SD-OCT were correlated with Snellen BCVA, which was converted to logMAR score. Subjects were divided into 2 groups: group I had improvement in BCVA of 2 lines or more and group II improved less than 2 lines or had worsening of BCVA.

RESULTS

A total of 35 eyes of 32 patients had successful anatomic closure, which was documented both clinically and on SD-OCT. Mean age of the patients was 74.1 years and 71.2% (23/32) of patients were female. Overall, the mean BCVA changed from 1.01+/-0.38 preoperatively to 0.89+/-0.48 postoperatively (p=0.33). Based on the postoperative visual outcome, 16 eyes belonged to group I and 19 eyes belonged to group II. On the SD-OCT, the mean CSFT was 252.7+/-69.1 microm. No correlation was found between the mean CSFT and BCVA in either group. All the 16 patients in group I had a continuous IS-OS line on SD-OCT at the fovea in contrast to 26.3 % (5/19) of patients in group II (p=0.03).

CONCLUSIONS

Establishment of continuity of IS-OS line is an important indicator of visual recovery in eyes with successful anatomic closure of macular hole.