Observation of idiopathic full-thickness macular hole closure in early postoperative period as evaluated by optical coherence tomography

PURPOSE: To report the optical coherence tomography (OCT) determined progressive changes in a macular hole (MH) following vitreous surgery with a gas tamponade. DESIGN: Observational case report. METHODS: A 60-year,old woman with an idiopathic full, thickness MH (Gass, Stage 2) in the left eye underwent vitreous surgery with a gas tamponade. The progressive closure of the MH was followed by OCT because an unplanned decrease of the gas tamponade made the macula accessible to OCT examination. RESULTS: On day 1, the tissue surrounding the MH extended into the center, and on day 2, the subretinal fluid and foveal cysts decreased and the retinal separation was reduced. On the third postoperative day, the MH was closed and the foveal contour was similar to that of normal retinas. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrated that a small MH appears to be closed by 3 days after vitrectomy with gas tamponade. Although we cannot generalize to all sizes of MH, our findings suggest that small MHs are closed much earlier than reported and that the duration of maintaining a prone position can be shortened. (C) 2003 by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.