Anterior chamber aqueous flare is not a predictor for surgical closure of full-thickness idiopathic macular holes

• Published in: European journal of ophthalmology 2020-09, Vol.30 (5), p.1127-1134
• Main Authors: Schaub, Friederike, Enders, Philip, Scholz, Paula, Müther, Philipp S, Fauser, Sascha, Kirchhof, Bernd
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1120-6721; 1724-6016
• DOI: 10.1177/1120672119843283

Purpose: To investigate the predictive value of preoperative anterior chamber aqueous flare levels measured by laser flare photometry for surgical success of idiopathic macular holes in addition to preoperative anatomic characteristics. Methods: Records of 105 consecutive eyes with full-thickness idiopathic macular holes which underwent pars plana vitrectomy with internal limiting membrane peeling and sulfur hexafluoride 20% (SF620%) endotamponade were reviewed retrospectively. All patients underwent preoperative measurements of anterior chamber aqueous flare and anatomical idiopathic macular hole characteristics evaluated by optical coherence tomography: macular hole inner opening diameter, macular hole minimum linear diameter, macular hole base diameter, and macular hole height. Best-corrected visual acuity results were recorded pre- and postoperatively. Results: In 17 (16.2%) of 105 eyes primary closure of idiopathic macular hole failed, whereas in 88 eyes (83.8%) closure was achieved. Between both groups, preoperative macular hole minimum linear diameter (p = 0.001) and macular hole inner opening diameter (p = 0.006) were statistically different. Failure rates were significantly lower in eyes with macular hole minimum linear diameter