Lamellar macular holes: evolving concepts and propensity for progression to full thickness macular hole

Currently the term lamellar macular hole (LMH) alludes to a wide spectrum of macular conditions including distinct clinical entities with different pathomorphologies. Classifications into subtypes, tractional and degenerative or based on the associated preretinal tissue had been proposed. Recent insights suggest that only lesions with tissue loss should be considered 'true' LMH and not those morphological changes caused by tractional forces. Inclusion of lesions with foveoschisis with contractile epiretinal membrane (ERM) in earlier studies on LMHs has resulted in imprecise information about its clinical course. This review provides an overview of the evolving concepts of LMHs and analyses its natural history from study cases in previously published literature.