Macular hole is a disease that reaches the center of the retina, called macula, forming a hole that develops over time and causes a gradual loss of vision, this region concentrates as many visual cells, so this situation causes symptoms such as loss. sharpness of central vision, image distortion and difficulties in activities such as reading or driving.
After the confirmation of the disease through evaluation and examinations by the ophthalmologist, such as tomography, it is necessary to perform the treatment of the macular hole, whose main form is surgery, called vitrectomy, which consists of the application of a gas content to allow the healing the holes.
- The exact causes that lead to macular hole development are not fully known.
- So everyone can develop the disease.
- However.
- Some risk factors make it easier to appear.
- Such as:.
The macular hole develops when the vitreous, which is the gel that fills the eyeball, detaches from the retina, which can cause a defect to form in the area, damaging the affected tissue.
Affecting the retina, which is a very sensitive and important area of the eyes, affects vision. Discover other important diseases that affect the retina, especially those over the age of 50, such as retinal detachment and macular degeneration.
Diagnosis of the macular hole is done with the evaluation of the ophthalmologist, through the mapping of the retina, associated with imaging tests such as eye tomography or OCT, which visualizes in more detail the layers of the retina.
Find out how the retinal mapping test is being performed and what diseases you can identify.
Symptoms of macular hole include
Symptoms appear and worsen as the macular hole develops and reaches larger areas of the retina, and may not cause symptoms in the early stages. In addition, only one or both eyes may be affected.
Treatment of the macular hole depends on its degree and severity, since in most initial cases only observation can be indicated.
However, in case of injury growth and presence of symptoms, the main form of treatment is vitrectomy surgery, which is performed by the ophthalmologist removing the glass and then applying a gas inside the eye, which is able to relieve the pressure caused by the hole, facilitating closure and healing.
Over time, the gas bubble that forms is reabsorbed by the body and dissolves naturally, without further intervention. Postoperative recovery can be performed at home, with rest, eye drops and eye positioning in the way your doctor indicates, and vision recovers with the days, while the gas bubble reabsorbs, which can last from 2 weeks to 6 months.