Macular Structure Characteristics in Unilateral Idiopathic Full-Thickness Macular Hole and the Healthy Fellow Eyes

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the characteristics of the macular structure and foveal pit in eyes with lesions and healthy fellow eyes of patients with unilateral full-thickness macular holes (FTMH). Methods: Patients with unilateral FTMH were retrospectively enrolled as the study group, and their age- and sex-matched individuals with no vitreomacular diseases as the control group in a medical center. FTMHs were classified as FTMH with lamellar hole-associated epiretinal proliferation (LHEP), FTMH without LHEP or FTMH without vitreomacular separation. Macular structure parameters, including foveal base width (FBW), central foveolar thickness (CFT), central subfield thickness (CST), central subfield volume (CSV), and retinal artery trajectory (RAT), were measured using optical coherence tomography and fundus photography. These parameters were compared among different FTMH groups. Results: A total of 68 patients (39 women) with unilateral FTMH and 68 healthy controls were enrolled. The RAT of the lesioned eyes (0.19 ± 0.06) and the healthy fellow eyes (0.14 ± 0.04) were both smaller than those of the normal controls (0.37 ± 0.14) (P<0.001 for both). The FBW of the healthy fellow eyes (446.8 ± 98.2 μm) were significantly larger than those in the control group (338.4 ± 80.6 μm, P<0.001). No significant differences in any macular parameters were noted among the three different types of FTMH. Conclusions: Patients with unilateral FTMH had a wider RAT in both the lesioned and healthy eyes, and a wider foveal base in their healthy fellow eyes than in normal controls. Such macular structure characteristics may be prone to macular hole formation.