Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 18, 2026
Ex Vivo OCT-Based Multimodal Imaging of Human Donor Eyes for Research into Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Published on: May 26, 2023
Idiopathic full-thickness macular holes and the vitreomacular interface: a high-resolution spectral-domain optical
Atsushi Takahashi1, Akitoshi Yoshida, Taiji Nagaoka
1Department of Ophthalmology, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Hokkaido, Japan.
Purpose:
To analyze the vitreomacular interface in idiopathic full-thickness macular holes (MHs) using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography.
Design:
Prospective cross-sectional case series.
Methods:
Ninety-one eyes of 86 consecutive patients with a MH were examined by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. The vitreomacular interface was assessed and the presence or absence of an operculum was analyzed.
Results:
Fifty-two eyes had a stage 2 MH, 12 eyes a stage 3 MH, and 27 eyes a stage 4 MH. No posterior hyaloid membrane was detected in any eyes with a stage 4 MH. In 35 (54.7%) of the 64 eyes with an MH without a complete posterior vitreous detachment (PVD), we saw a perifoveal PVD with vitreofoveal adhesion and partial dehiscence of the raised inner retina with an outer retinal separation in the MHs. In 24 (37.5%) of the 64 eyes without a complete PVD, an operculum, which is a hyperreflective structure of the foveal retina, was in front of the MH. The posterior hyaloid membrane was separated completely but adhered to the optic disc. In 2 (3.1%) of the 64 eyes without a complete PVD, the posterior hyaloid membrane was separated from the macula without an operculum. In 3 (4.7%) of the 64 eyes without a complete PVD, vitreofoveal adhesion on both edges of the hole was connected to the taut posterior hyaloid membrane without an operculum.
Conclusions:
The vitreomacular interface had 4 configurations in MHs without a complete PVD. Approximately 55% of cases with an open roof in the eyes without a complete PVD may be at risk for progression to operculum formation (loss of retinal tissue).
