The macula is the central part of the retina and is responsible for delivering a crisp sense of clarity to one’s vision. When a small hole or tear forms in the macula, your vision may become blurry or distorted, and you may even experience significant loss in your vision. This condition can have a substantial impact on a person’s quality of life and impact their ability to conduct everyday activities. As a result, early intervention is a must. Learn more about the symptoms and treatments for macular holes below.
Macular Hole Causes
Macular holes tend to be more common in older adults, with the majority who develop this condition being aged 60 or older. During the aging process, the eye’s vitreous gel starts to shrink up, placing tension on the macula and sometimes causing it to rip.
Although aging is one of the main causes of macular holes, they can also develop due to eye injuries or in the case of a pre-existing condition, such as retinal detachment. Diabetic eye disease can also increase the likelihood of a macular hole, and people who have had cataract surgery also have a slightly higher risk of experiencing this condition.
Macular Hole Symptoms
Macular hole symptoms tend to present via disturbances in the visual field. However, their severity will depend upon the extent of the tear. Here are some to watch out for:
- Blurred vision – Patients may notice a blurry quality in the middle of their field of vision, which can affect their ability to focus on details.
- Distortions – Lines that are straight in reality may take on a wavy or bent appearance for those who are suffering from a macular hole.
- Dark spots – It’s common for a gray or black spot to appear in the center of the patient’s field of vision as the hole gets larger.
- Daily challenges – Those with a macular hole often start to struggle with daily activities that require an ability to concentrate on fine details, such as reading and driving, as well as recognizing faces.
Macular Hole Diagnosis
If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms, reach out to Sight360 to schedule a comprehensive examination. One of our skilled ophthalmologists will proceed with the diagnostic process, which may include techniques such as a dilated eye exam, optical coherence tomography, and visual acuity test.
Macular Hole vs. Macular Degeneration
Macular holes and macular degeneration are two conditions that are often confused since they affect the same part of the eye and produce similar symptoms. However, as its name suggests, macular degeneration is caused by the degeneration of the macula, rather than a physical hole. As a result, the treatment and prognosis are different.
Macular Hole Treatment
Macular hole treatment usually involves a surgery called a vitrectomy. This macular hole surgery involves the removal of the vitreous gel that has begun to pull at the retina. A gas bubble is then inserted into the eye to keep the macula in place, which gives the hole a chance to heal. The surgery is conducted on an outpatient basis and is usually a relatively short endeavor, taking an hour or less.
However, macular hole surgery recovery can be quite challenging for patients as they must remain face-down for multiple weeks. This position keeps the gas bubble in the right location, encouraging the healing of the macula. While total recovery of vision is not a guarantee, especially for macular holes that have been present for quite some time, the surgery has a good success rate.
Call Sight360 for Macular Hole Diagnosis & Treatment
If you are struggling with changes in your vision, reach out to Sight360 today and schedule an eye exam. Our ophthalmologists are experts at diagnosing macular holes and can educate you about the road to treatment and recovery.
Treatments for Macular Hole
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