Peripheral visual field defects after macular hole surgery: a complication with decreasing incidence.

AIM To prospectively evaluate peripheral visual fields after vitrectomy for idiopathic macular holes. METHODS Goldmann perimetry was performed in 105 patients before, as well as 6 weeks and 12 months after macular hole surgery. RESULTS Only one patient (< 1%) with a stage III macular hole developed an asymptomatic postoperative visual field defect. The scotoma was wedge-shaped, peripherally located in the temporal quadrant, and remained unchanged during the following 12 months. CONCLUSION Peripheral visual field defects after macular hole surgery can be a complication of very low incidence. A rather low pressure set during air-fluid exchange as well as special aspects of the surgical technique may be responsible for this low incidence of peripheral visual field defects.