In-Depth Analysis of Preoperative OCT Markers as Prognostic Factors for Lamellar Macular Holes and Epiretinal Membrane Foveoschisis
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Updated: Jul 11, 2025
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Published on: May 26, 2023
Mya Abousy1, Laura E Drew-Bear2, Alison Gibbons3
1Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami, Miami, Florida; Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.
Objective:
To identify preoperative OCT markers that correlate with postoperative visual acuity (VA) changes in eyes with lamellar macular hole (LMH) and epiretinal membrane foveoschisis (ERMF) after pars plana vitrectomy (PPV).
Design:
Cross-sectional retrospective study.
Subjects:
Patients seen at the Wilmer Eye Institute between 2011 and 2021 with an International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, or International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, code for "macular hole" that underwent PPV, and demonstrated all OCT criteria present for either LMH or ERMF based on the Hubschman et al (2020) classification.
Methods:
OCT markers including hole dimensions, retinal layer continuity, and ellipsoid zone (EZ) convexity and pixelated intensity were quantified. Visual acuity immediately before PPV and at the last follow-up date available were both recorded.
Main Outcome Measures:
Preoperative OCT variables that are correlated with postoperative changes in VA.
Results:
Forty-two eyes from 42 patients with LMH (n = 11) and ERMF (n = 31) that underwent PPV were identified. Visual acuity in the ERMF cohort significantly improved at last follow-up compared with preoperative VA (P < 0.001), whereas VA in the LMH cohort did not (P = 0.14). In the LMH cohort, retinal layer continuity at the hole edge was positively correlated with change in VA at final follow-up, whereas hole height was negatively correlated with VA. In the ERMF cohort, preoperative VA was negatively correlated with change in VA at final follow-up.
Conclusions:
Retinal layer continuity at the hole and hole height are novel preoperative markers that predict postoperative VA change in LMH. After identifying the type of macular lesion, surgeons should consider using these preoperative OCT markers when counseling patients on potential postoperative VA outcomes and when managing patient expectations.
Financial Disclosure(S):
The authors have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article.
