A prospective study of the effect of a unilateral macular hole on sensory and motor binocular function and recovery following successful surgery.

AIMS To examine the effect of a unilateral full thickness macular hole on sensory and motor binocular function and to study recovery after successful surgical closure. METHODS Twenty eight consecutive patients undergoing surgery for a unilateral macular hole underwent orthoptic examination, including measurements of Titmus and TNO stereoacuity and motor fusion range before surgery. Twenty three patients had successful anatomical closure. Fifteen of these patients, who had both improved acuity in the operated eye following surgery and were available for further testing, underwent repeat orthoptic assessment 2-7 months after surgery. RESULTS In all patients stereoacuity was reduced before surgery, but few patients were subjectively aware of a deficit of depth perception affecting their everyday life. In those patients with improved Snellen acuity after surgery, stereoacuity measured by the Titmus stereotest also improved significantly, but not that measured by the TNO test. Two patients were aware of a subjective improvement in depth perception. Motor fusion was markedly reduced compared to normal before surgery, with only limited recovery after surgery. CONCLUSION A unilateral macular hole notably reduced both stereoacuity and motor fusion. Successful closure improved the deficit in stereoacuity associated with the hole when measured by a stereotest using contoured stimuli. The majority of patients were not subjectively aware of the deficit in stereoacuity or its improvement following surgery.