RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN METAMORPHOPSIA AND INTRARETINAL CYSTS WITHIN THE FLUID CUFF AFTER SURGERY FOR IDIOPATHIC MACULAR...

To quantify metamorphopsia in patients undergoing vitrectomy for idiopathic macular hole (MH) and to investigate the relationship between metamorphopsia and foveal microstructure.

This is prospective, consecutive, interventional study. Fifty-one eyes of MH were included. Severity of metamorphopsia was quantified using the M-CHARTS and foveal microstructure was assessed with optical coherence tomography preoperatively and at 3 months, 6 months postoperatively. Based on the optical coherence tomography images, the authors quantified minimum and base diameters of MH, macular thickness, defect lengths of external limiting membrane, ellipsoid zone and interdigitation zone, and the area of intraretinal cysts within the fluid cuff.

Mean metamorphopsia score was significantly improved from 0.82 to 0.44. Postoperative mean and horizontal metamorphopsia scores were correlated with preoperative base diameters of MH, defect lengths of external limiting membrane, and the area of cysts in fluid cuff. Multiple regression analysis revealed that postoperative mean and horizontal metamorphopsia scores were significantly positively relevant to the area of intraretinal cysts within the fluid cuff. Postoperative vertical metamorphopsia score was also correlated with the area of intraretinal cysts within the fluid cuff.

Vitrectomy for MH improved metamorphopsia. Postoperative metamorphopsia was associated with the preoperative area of intraretinal cysts within the fluid cuff.