Korean J Ophthalmol.  2008 Jun;22(2):137-142. 10.3341/kjo.2008.22.2.137.

Reorganization of Photoreceptor Layer on Optical Coherence Tomography Concurrent with Visual Improvement after Macular Hole Surgery

• Lee JE
• Lee SU
• Jea SY
• Choi HY
• Oum BS

• KMID: 1099010
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3341/kjo.2008.22.2.137

Abstract

To report three cases in which reorganization of the photoreceptor layer on optical coherence tomography (OCT) was concurrent with long-term visual recovery after macular hole surgery. Serial OCT scans of three eyes in which visual acuity continued to improve for 1 or more years after successful macular hole surgery were reviewed. Case 1. At postoperative four weeks, visual acuity was 20/100 with disorganized photoreceptor layer on OCT. The photoreceptor layer had been reorganized and visual acuity had improved to 20/25 by 1 year. Case 2. Two weeks after the operation, visual acuity was 20/125 and disorganization of the photoreceptor layer was noted. Visual acuity improved to 20/50 by four months. The photoreceptor layer had been partly reorganized and had appearance of a broken line. Visual acuity had improved to 20/40 and the photoreceptor layer had been reorganized further with a residual defect on OCT by 15 months. Case 3. Visual acuity at two weeks was 20/100. OCT revealed disorganization of the photoreceptor layer. Six months after the operation, the partly reorganized photoreceptor layer appeared as a broken line and visual acuity had reached 20/80. Visual acuity had improved further to 20/40 by 1 year, concurrent with improved organization of the photoreceptor layer. The reorganization of the photoreceptor layer plays a part in long-term improvement of visual acuity after macular hole surgery.

Keyword

Macular hole; Optical coherence tomography; Photoreceptor reorganization

MeSH Terms

Adult
Aged
Basement Membrane/surgery
Female
Humans
Middle Aged
Photoreceptor Cells, Vertebrate/*physiology
Regeneration/*physiology
Retinal Perforations/*surgery
Tomography, Optical Coherence
Visual Acuity/*physiology
Vitrectomy