The Progress of Macular Hole

When your grandmother or grandfather reads1), without treatment, 50% is most likely to
every morning, do you notice them that holdingprogress to the second stage; Partial-thickness
their newspaper in an evident distance from theirholes (stage 2), without treatment, 70% will
body? They also squint their eyes as they readprogress and grows severe to the last stage; and
the periodical. This condition is normal as certainFull-thickness holes (stage 3).
eye irregularities are rampant especially when aTo avoid the vitreous gel to eventually pull away
person ages and reaches the age of 50 andthe retina and produce macular hole, vitrectomy is
above. The macula, which is the portion of ourdone in order to allow further improvement and
eyes which provides sharpness as we need it fortreatment of the condition. This procedure
reading, driving and seeing fine details, is affectedremoves the vitreous gel and a bubble containing
most of the time as the person ages.mixture of air and gas will be replace to act as an
If a person is affected with those said condition,internal and temporary bandage that holds the
he or she has similar symptoms with macularedge of the macular hole in place as it heals. The
degeneration which usually occurs before thesurgery is done through local anesthesia and the
condition progresses. However macularoutcome might be uncertain. Most surgeons
degeneration and macular hole have two distinctconsider it as "damage limitation". If complication
damages in the eye, as hole in the macula affectsmight take place, a cataract can progress rapidly
the retina and if this condition grows severe,in most patients and most certain than not, the
retinal detachment can be anticipated. Thepatient might be able to develop a macular hole in
vitreous gel which comprises 80 percent of thethe other eye too. The probability is one in ten
eye is in some form, a contributory factor or achances in most patients.
conduit of formation of macular hole because, theRecovery from the surgery varies from patient
proportion of vitreous gel diminishes along withto patient. Those who had macular hole for less
the advancement of age. If this happens, as itsthan 6 months may recover much more certainly
fluid grows minimal due to ageing, its fibers thatthan those who had longer experience of having
are attached to the retina will be pulled away andmacular hole. The important thing to consider post
it can tear the retina which creates a hole in theoperatively is to let the patient have a head-down
macula.position maintained and monitor, so as to keep
This condition is a sight-threatening condition whatthe posture in the correct place while the retina
should receive immediate medical attention. It hasheals.
three stages namely Foveal detachment (stage