Macular holes following vitrectomy for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment: epiretinal proliferation and spontaneous closure of macular holes.

Purpose: To describe the characteristics and management of full-thickness macular holes (MHs) that develop after pars plana vitrectomy for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RD).

Methods: Retrospective, interventional, consecutive case series. Patients who developed secondary full-thickness MHs after prior pars plana vitrectomy for RD over a 6-year period were included. The main outcome measures included optical coherence tomography (OCT) findings and the clinical course of full-thickness MHs.

Results: A total of 11 eyes of 11 consecutive patients were included in the study. The mean age of the patients was 58.8 years (range, 47-70 years). The median time between RD repair and MH diagnosis was 36 months (range, 1 month-11 years). The fovea was attached to 10 eyes (91%) at the time of RD repair. OCT demonstrated epiretinal proliferation (EP) at the hole margin in 10 eyes (91%). MH spontaneously closed in 7 eyes (63%) but reopened in 5 eyes. A total of 7 eyes (63%) required a vitrectomy to repair the MHs. All MHs were closed at the last follow-up visit.

Conclusion: Full-thickness MHs after pars plana vitrectomy for RD have features that are distinct from that of typical idiopathic MH. The presence of EPs is common, and MHs are prone to spontaneous closure and reopening. These findings suggest that EP may be associated with spontaneous hole closure and that long-term follow-up is necessary even if the MHs close spontaneously.