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Updated: Jan 18, 2026
Author Spotlight: Ex Vivo OCT-Based Multimodal Imaging of Human Donor Eyes for Research into Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Published on: May 26, 2023
NATURAL HISTORY OF TRACTIONAL LAMELLAR MACULAR HOLE
Kyeung Min Kim1, Se Joon Woo, Sang Jun Park
1Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Korea.
Purpose:
To evaluate the long-term functional and anatomical outcomes in patients with tractional lamellar macular holes who were managed without surgical intervention.
Methods:
A total of 63 eyes previously diagnosed with tractional lamellar macular hole between July 1, 2009, and January 30, 2024, without any surgical interventions were enrolled. The change in best-corrected visual acuity, lamellar hole diameter, central retinal thickness (CRT) on optical coherence tomography (OCT), foveal avascular zone areas on OCT angiography, and M-chart scores between initial and final visits were assessed.
Results:
The mean follow-up was 3.7 ± 3.0 years. Best-corrected visual acuity remained stable (0.07 ± 0.07-0.08 ± 0.09 logMAR; ≈20/23-20/24 Snellen equivalent; P = 0.464). Lamellar hole diameter increased significantly (1,586 ± 610-1786 ± 603 µ m, P < 0.001), while CRT remained unchanged (374 ± 60-372 ± 62 µ m, P = 0.567). Foveal avascular zone area in the deep capillary plexus significantly increased (1.01 ± 0.49-1.19 ± 0.62 mm 2 , P = 0.009), whereas foveal avascular zone in the superficial capillary plexus showed no significant change (0.48 ± 0.19-0.49 ± 0.18 mm 2 , P = 0.624). M-chart scores remained stable in both horizontal and vertical axes (0.12 ± 0.27-0.16 ± 0.33°, P = 0.534; 0.17 ± 0.31-0.15 ± 0.28°, P = 0.640, respectively).
Conclusion:
Patients with tractional lamellar macular holes maintained stable visual function over long-term follow-up without surgical intervention.
