Epiretinal proliferation in lamellar macular holes and full-thickness macular holes: clinical and surgical findings

Purpose: To report the clinical findings and surgical outcomes of lamellar macular holes (LMH) with or without lamellar hole-associated epiretinal proliferation (LHEP), and those of full-thickness macular holes (FTMH) presenting with LHEP. Methods: From 2009 to 2013, consecutive cases of surgically treated LMH, and all FTMH cases with LHEP were reviewed, given a follow-up time over 1?year. Results: In the LMH group (43 cases), those with LHEP (19 cases) had significantly thinner bases and larger openings than those without (24 cases). The rate of disrupted IS/OS line was higher in the LHEP subgroup preoperatively (68.4?% vs 37.5?%), but similar between subgroups postoperatively (36.8?% and 33.3?%). The preoperative and postoperative visual acuity showed no significant difference between two subgroups. In the FTMH group (13 cases), the average hole size was 219.2 ± 92.1?μm. Permanent or transient spontaneous hole closure was noted in 69.2?% of cases. An intact IS-OS line was found in only 23?% of cases at the final follow-up. Conclusion: In the LMH group, LHEP was associated with a more severe defect but didn’t affect surgical outcomes. In the FTMH group, spontaneous hole closure was frequently noted. Despite small holes, disruption of IS-OS line was common after hole closure. ? 2015, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.