Who develops macular holes?
Macular holes are rare, effecting 3.3 people per 1,000. Predominantly healthy women in their 60’s are afflicted. It rarely causes the blinding condition of retinal detachment. It can be found in younger patients with trauma, diabetics or patients with inflammatory disorders. Ocular Coherence Tomography, OCT, is also employed to measure the retinal thickness and obtain microscopic images of the area of concern. OCT helps the doctor “track” the course of the disease and give actual measurements of the retinal swelling and defects in the retina. OCT can confirm the advancement of a macular hole and its successful surgical closure.
