Optical coherence tomography evaluation of idiopathic macular hole treatment by gas-assisted posterior vitreous detachment.

Abstract

To report a series of patients with Stage II macular hole (MH) treated by gas-assisted posterior vitreous detachment (GAPVD). Interventional case series. Six patients (six eyes) with Stage II MH were submitted to a 0.4 ml perfluoropropane (C(3)F(8)) intravitreal injection. Comprehensive ophthalmic examination including best-corrected visual acuity, fundus photography, and optical coherence tomography (OCT) was performed at baseline and one, three, and six months after the procedure. Preoperative OCT revealed Stage II MH in all cases. In five cases, improvement in visual acuity and closure of the macular hole on OCT was observed at one, three, and six months after GAPVD. In one case, although vitreofoveal traction was released, MH closure was not achieved; a full-thickness retinal defect persisted and final visual acuity was 20/100. GAPVD may be a viable alternative treatment for Stage II MH.