Lamellar macular hole: a complication of cystoid macular edema after cataract extraction

A woman developed an inner lamellar macular hole and cellophane maculopathy as a complication of chronic cystoid macular edema following cataract extraction. Fluorescein angiography revealed a cystoid pattern of fluorescence in the paracentral area but no evidence of staining in the region of the hole. Following death, histopathologic examination of both eyes confirmed the clinical observations. Biomicroscopic examination and fluorescein angiography are of value in differentiating an inner lamellar macular hole from a full-thickness macular hole and from a pseudomacular hole caused by spontaneous contraction of an epiretinal membrane.