A macular hole is a full-thickness break in the central retina at the macula. It causes blurred and distorted central vision, often making reading and recognising faces more difficult.
How macular holes form
Most macular holes are related to age-related changes in the vitreous, which can pull on the macula as it separates. Trauma, high myopia and previous retinal surgery are other recognised risk factors.
- Symptoms may include a central blur, distortion or a small missing patch
- Early-stage holes can sometimes close spontaneously
- Established holes are usually treated with vitrectomy and internal limiting membrane peel
- Gas is often placed in the eye and specific head positioning may be advised
