TREATMENT OF FULL-THICKNESS MACULAR HOLES WITH AUTOLOGOUS SERUM

A total of 28 patients (29 eyes) with stage 24 idiopathic full-thickne ss macular holes were treated with the use of autologous serum. Autolo gous serum (20-30 mu L) was placed over each macular hole followed by injection of 16% perfluoropropane gas. Postoperatively, 28 eyes (97%) had flattening of the macular hole, and the hole could not be detected in 27 eyes (93%). Twenty-two eyes (76%) showed visual acuity improvem ent by at least two lines or more. Preoperative factors such as good v isual acuity, earlier stage, and younger age were correlated with post operative good visual acuity. These results suggest that autologous se rum is beneficial in the treatment of full-thickness macular holes. (C ) 1997 Japanese Ophthalmological Society.