Treatment of Secondary Full-Thickness Macular Holes with Topical Therapy

To report the outcomes of secondary full-thickness macular holes (FTMHs) treated with topical therapy.

Retrospective case series.

Patients with secondary FTHMs initially treated with topical therapy in a referral-based retina practice.

Patients evaluated between April 14, 2016, and February 22, 2019, for secondary FTMHs who underwent topical therapy were included. Patient demographics, ocular history, type of drops used, duration of therapy, and duration of follow-up as well as anatomic features on OCT, including hole diameter and presence of vitreomacular traction, epiretinal membrane (ERM), and cystoid macular edema (CME), were analyzed.

Closure rate of FTMHs and change in visual acuity.

A total of 123 FTMHs were seen during the study, of which 12 were secondary macular holes. Topical therapy was attempted in 9 eyes (8 patients). Six of these 9 FTMHs were associated with prior retinal detachment (RD). Previous pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) had been performed in 3 eyes (1 for RD, 2 for ERM). One eye had vitreomacular traction and a remote history of blunt trauma. Average initial hole diameter was 79.6 μm (range, 44-132 μm). Average follow-up was 53 weeks (range, 5-153 weeks). All FTMHs had some element of ERM and CME. All patients received difluprednate with the addition of a topical carbonic anhydrase inhibitor in 6 eyes and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) drops in 2 eyes. Eight eyes (89%) achieved successful hole closure and resolution of CME with concurrent improvement in visual acuity after an average of 6 weeks of therapy (range, 2-19 weeks). Average vision among all 9 eyes improved from 0.69 to 0.37 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (Snellen equivalent from approximately 20/100 to approximately 20/50). No episodes of corneal melts or ulcers occurred. One patient showed mild keratopathy and elevation of intraocular pressure with topical NSAID and steroid therapy that resolved when the topical NSAID was stopped and difluprednate was tapered down to once weekly.

Topical therapy achieved high closure rates in secondary FTMH and can be considered as an initial treatment option especially in those with small holes and CME.