This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.
Edema after macular hole surgery does not affect visual outcomes, study finds
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts
Macular edema after macular hole surgery is not associated with visual impairment, a German study found. In addition, the study authors found that combining cataract surgery with macular hole surgery did not negatively affect functional outcomes.
Frank G. Holz and colleagues at the University of Heidelberg evaluated the incidence and extent of macular edema after macular hole surgery in 125 eyes of 116 patients with and without a combined cataract procedure. Fluorescein angiograms taken via confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscope were sufficient for evaluation in 59 eyes.
In 79.7% of the eyes evaluated, angiographic macular edema was noted an average of 4.2 months postoperatively. Macular edema development occurred in 87% of the eyes that had combined cataract surgery and in 66.7% of the eyes with no simultaneous cataract surgery. The mean postop visual acuity was 0.4. No significant difference in visual improvement from baseline was noted between eyes with macular edema and those without macular edema.
The study is published in the September issue of Der Ophthalmologe.