Also part of the UPMC family:
Macular holes often begin gradually and, in the early stages, patients may have a slight distortion or blurriness when they look straight ahead, and objects can appear twisted or wavy. A macular hole usually occurs in three stages: foveal detachments, partial-thickness holes, and full-thickness holes.
A complete eye exam with an ophthalmologist is needed for a correct diagnosis and while there is a small percentage that will heal on their own, the majority of macular holes will worsen without treatment and can threaten a person’s eyesight.
Macular holes typically are treated with a surgical procedure, called a vitrectomy. During this surgery, the retina specialist removes the eye’s vitreous gel to prevent it from separating from the retina and allowing other eye fluids to leak behind the retina, which can worsen the condition.
During a vitrectomy, the vitreous is replaced with a bubble mixture of gas and air that puts pressure on the edges of the macular hole, allowing it to heal. In order for the bubble to press against the macula and seal the hole, however, a patient has to remain in a face-down posit ion for several days. Over a period of time, the air and gas bubble is eventually reabsorbed by the eye and the vitreous cavity will refill with natural eye fluid.
Your health information, right at your fingertips. Select MyUPMC to access your UPMC health information. For patients of UPMC-affiliated doctors in central Pa., select MyPinnacleHealth.
The portal for all UPMC patients EXCEPT those in Central Pa.
The portal for UPMC patients in Central Pa.