Full-Thickness Macular Hole Formation after Internal Limiting Membrane Peeling: Beware the “Omega Sign”

Purpose. To introduce a clinical sign on spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SDOCT), which may indicate high risk for full-thickness macular hole formation after internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling. Methods. The preoperative SDOCT images of two patients-one with multilaminar hemorrhage from ruptured retinal artery macroaneurysm and one with serous retinal detachment and severe macular schisis from optic pit maculopathy-who developed full-thickness macular hole (FTMH) after ILM peeling were evaluated retrospectively. Results. On the preoperative SDOCT images of both patients there was a thin bridge of tissue on either side of the foveal center with an outer retinal defect. The photoreceptors were displaced laterally away from the foveal center to create an "omega-" shaped configuration of the remaining tissue. Conclusion. "Omega-" shaped configuration on SDOCT may represent a higher risk of FTMH following ILM peeling. Vitreoretinal surgeons may wish to consider this sign in the process of their surgical decision making.