Assessment of Foveal Microstructure and Foveal Lucencies Using Optical Coherence Tomography Radial Scans Following Macular Hole Surgery

PurposeTo evaluate the foveal microstructure using high-density (24-line) radial scans and their correlation with visual recovery following macular hole surgery.DesignRetrospective, consecutive, interventional case series.MethodsForty-five eyes of 43 patients with ≥6 months follow-up following surgery were analyzed. Preoperative predictive measures evaluated included basal hole and minimum linear diameters. Outcome measures included best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), postoperative foveal lucency horizontal and vertical size, external limiting membrane, and ellipsoid zone defect.ResultsMean basal hole diameter was 642 ± 330 μm and minimum linear diameter was 277 ± 161 μm. BCVA (logMAR) improved from 0.67 ± 0.23 to 0.31 ± 0.16 at 12 months (P < .001). Foveal lucency horizontal and vertical sizes (μm) improved from 97 ± 81 and 33 ± 18 at 1 month to 26 ± 33 and 19 ± 18, respectively (P < .05) at 12 months. External limiting membrane recovered in all cases at 1 month. Mean ellipsoid zone defect (μm) reduced from 136 ± 164 at 1 month to 32 ± 33 at 12 months (P < .05). Preoperative basal hole diameter correlated with horizontal foveal lucency size at all time points (P < .05). Horizontal foveal lucency size at 1 month correlated (P < .05) with BCVA at 6 and 12 months. Basal hole diameter ≥700 μm (71% sensitivity and 70% specificity) and minimum linear diameter ≥330 μm (71% sensitivity and 70% specificity) were predictive of foveal lucency development. Cataract surgery did not influence foveal lucency resolution and no holes reopened.ConclusionUsing radial scans, 71% of eyes demonstrated a foveal lucency at 1 month, whose size correlated with visual recovery. Preoperative basal hole diameter was predictive of foveal lucency development and size.