WHAT TESTS WILL BE PERFORMED?
Your ophthalmologist (Eye M.D.) will diagnose a macular hole by looking inside your eye with special instruments. Your ophthalmologist may use a test called Optical Coherence Tomography, or OCT, to scan and examine your retina. OCT uses light waves to reveal specific layers of the retina.
HOW IS A MACULAR HOLE TREATED?
Vitrectomy surgery is the most effective treatment to repair a macular hole and possibly improve vision. The surgery involves tiny instruments to remove the vitreous gel that is pulling on the macula. The eye is then filled with a special gas bubble to help flatten the macular hole and hold it in place while it heals.
You must maintain a constant face-down position after surgery to keep the gas bubble in contact with the macula. This can range from a few days to a few weeks, depending on your surgeon's recommendation. A successful result often depends on how well this position is maintained. The bubble will then slowly dissolve on its own.
Do not fly in an airplane or travel at high altitudes until the gas bubble has dissolved. A rapid increase in altitude can cause a dangerous rise in eye pressure.
You can expect some discomfort after surgery. You will need to wear an eye patch for a short time. Your ophthalmologist will prescribe eyedrops for you and advise you when to resume normal activity.
As the macular hole closes, the eye slowly regains part of the lost sight. The outcome for vision may depend on the size of the hole and how long it was present before surgery. The amount of visual recovery can vary.