Bilateral Macular Hole Related to Tamoxifen Low-Dose Toxicity

Abstract

Bilateral macular hole is a rare secondary effect of tamoxifen, a condition which is probably underdiagnosed. We describe the case of a 63-year-old woman who had received low-dose treatment with tamoxifen for 10 years. She presented with a best-corrected visual acuity of 20/40 in both eyes and bilateral macular hole with posterior hyaloid attachment. No reflective deposits were observed. A 23-gauge pars plana vitrectomy with internal limiting membrane peeling and gas tamponade was performed in the right eye with no anatomical or functional improvement. The most accepted mechanism of macular hole related to tamoxifen is Müller cell toxicity with retinal tissue loss. Therefore, it seems that the standard procedure used in idiopathic macular hole is not the optimal choice, due to a different pathogenic mechanism.

Keywords

• macular hole
• vitrectomy
• tamoxifen
• retinal toxicity