Full-Thickness Macular Hole Formation in the Postoperative Period After Initial Vitrectomy for Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment.

Background and Objective: To evaluate full-thickness macular hole (MH) formation in the postoperative period after initial vitrectomy for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (rRD).

Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 4 consecutive eyes that required additional vitrectomy for full-thickness MH between April 2013 and March 2016 after undergoing an initial vitrectomy for rRD.

Results: Epiretinal membrane (ERM) was identified by preoperative optical coherence tomography or intraoperative dye staining in each case. Photocoagulation of retinal breaks prior to initial vitrectomy was performed in Cases 1, 2, and 3 (4-16 days), with yttrium-aluminum-garnet capsulotomy after cataract extraction also performed prior to the retinal break formation in Case 3. At the initial vitrectomy, there was a superior retinal break which crossed the equator in Case 2, and an intentional hole was created in Cases 1 and 4. The mean interval from the initial vitrectomy until MH formation was 27.5 ± 15.8 months. As with Case 2, the intervals in Cases 1 and 4, in which an intentional hole was created, were clearly shorter than in those in Case 3. Finally, MH closure was achieved after an additional vitrectomy (removal of the internal limiting membrane with ERM and gas tamponade) and best-corrected visual acuity improved in each case.

Conclusion: ERM was identified in the cases examined in our study. The presence of an intentional hole might shorten the interval of MH formation after vitrectomy for rRD.