Scanning laser ophthalmoscope correlations with biomicroscopic findings and foveal function after macular hole closure.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the relation between foveal findings and visual function in eyes with a resolved idiopathic macular hole after vitreous surgery. METHODS We divided 28 eyes with postoperative idiopathic macular hole resolution into 3 groups based on postoperative biomicroscopic foveal findings of complete closure, partial closure, or atrophic closure. To evaluate foveal retinal function, scanning laser ophthalmoscope (SLO) microperimetry was performed preoperatively and 6 months postoperatively. RESULTS Postoperatively in 18 eyes (64%), the foveal images became normal or almost normal and were classified as having complete closure, 6 eyes (21%) were classified as having partial closure, and 4 eyes (14%) as having atrophic closure. The corresponding visual acuity levels 6 months postoperatively were, respectively, 0.10, 0.35, and 0.64 (P<.01) based on LogMAR analysis. Preoperative SLO microperimetry detected an absolute scotoma at the bottom of all macular holes; postoperatively, the absolute scotoma disappeared in the 18 eyes with complete hole closure, but a relative scotoma was detected in 6 eyes. Of 6 eyes with partial closure, 1 had an absolute scotoma and 5 had a relative scotoma. An absolute scotoma was detected in 4 eyes with atrophic closure. CONCLUSIONS After macular hole closure, SLO findings correlate both with biomicroscopic findings and foveal function. Better anatomical foveal recovery in eyes after macular hole closure results in better improvement of vision than in eyes in which the foveal anatomical findings are not as good.