Clinical Ophthalmology (Jan 2023)

Rates of Fellow Eye Macular Hole Development During Long Term Follow-Up

  • Staropoli PC,
  • Moolani HV,
  • Elhusseiny AM,
  • Flynn HW Jr,
  • Smiddy WE

Journal volume & issue
Vol. Volume 17
pp. 47 – 52

Abstract

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Patrick C Staropoli,1 Harsh V Moolani,1 Abdelrahman M Elhusseiny,2 Harry W Flynn Jr,1 William E Smiddy1 1Department of Ophthalmology, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA; 2Department of Ophthalmology, Jones Eye Institute, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USACorrespondence: William E Smiddy, Department of Ophthalmology, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, 900 NW 17th Street, Miami, FL, 33136, USA, Tel +1 305-302-2704, Fax +1 305-326-6114, Email [email protected]: Identify the long-term rate of fellow eye full-thickness macular hole (FTMH) development.Patients and Methods: In this single site, single provider retrospective consecutive case series, idiopathic FTMH patients who underwent surgery from 2003 to 2014 who also had at least 5 years of follow-up information within our electronic medical record (EMR) which was started in 2014 were identified. Cases with secondary causes (ie, trauma), high myopia, bilateral FTMH on presentation, previous retinal surgery, retinal breaks, or intraocular inflammation were excluded. Demographics, medical and ocular history, refractive error, phakic status, best corrected visual acuity, follow-up duration, surgical technique, single operation anatomic success, and reoperations were recorded.Results: The rate of fellow eye FTMH was 2.6% (2/77) at 1 year, 5.2% (4/77) at 3 years, 9.1% (6/66) at 6 years, and 9.1% (7/77) as of final follow up. There were 2 cases by year 1, 2 additional cases by year 3, 2 additional cases by year 6, and 1 additional case reported thereafter. The average follow up was 11.1 ± 4.5 years. There was no significant difference in visual outcomes between primary eyes and fellow eyes. There was no significant difference in gender, age, ocular comorbidities, refractive error, phakic status, and visual acuity between the unilateral and bilateral groups.Conclusion: The rate of FTMH in the fellow eye was low but significant, increased during long-term follow up, and may stabilize after 6 years.Keywords: macular hole, fellow eye, surgical outcomes, counseling

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