IDIOPATHIC FULL-THICKNESS MACULAR HOLE IN AN 8-YEAR-OLD BOY.

PURPOSE: To report a case of idiopathic full-thickness macular hole in a young boy, which was managed surgically with good visual and anatomical outcomes.

METHOD: Single case report.

RESULTS: An 8-year-old boy presented for defective vision in the left eye noticed for the past 2 weeks with best-corrected visual acuity of 6/24. A large full-thickness macular hole was diagnosed clinically and was confirmed on optical coherence tomography. There was no clinical or tomographic findings suggestive of trauma or retinal degeneration. After observation for 8 weeks, the patient underwent macular hole surgery in the left eye including internal limiting membrane peeling and C3F8 gas tamponade. Intraoperatively abnormally tight vitreoretinal adherence was noted during the induction of posterior vitreous detachment. Optical coherence tomography at 1 month after surgery showed decrease in the size of macular hole suggestive of incomplete closure. Repeat optical coherence tomography at 3 months showed closed macular hole with mild foveal thinning and ellipsoid zone discontinuity with best-corrected visual acuity improving to 6/18. The tomographic features and best-corrected visual acuity remained stable at 6-month follow-up.

CONCLUSION: We hereby report the first case, to the best of our knowledge, of a truly idiopathic full-thickness macular hole in an 8-year-old boy. Surgical treatment offers the best outcomes in these cases and should be considered at the earliest without waiting for spontaneous closure unlike in the case of traumatic full-thickness macular hole.