VITRECTOMY, FLUID-GAS EXCHANGE AND TRANSFORMING GROWTH-FACTOR-BETA-2 FOR THE TREATMENT OF TRAUMATIC MACULAR HOLES

Purpose: To evaluate whether vitreous surgery is successful in closing full-thickness traumatic macular holes and whether there is subsequen t improvement in visual acuity. Methods: Twelve eyes from 12 consecuti ve patients with traumatic macular holes underwent vitrectomy, fluid-g as exchange and instillation of bovine or recombinant transforming gro wth factor (TGF)-beta-2. Three of four eyes underwent repeat vitrectom y with TGF-beta-2 after the initial procedure failed to close the macu lar hole. Results: Eleven (92%) of 12 eyes had closure of the macular hole. Follow-up ranged from 3 to 33 months. Visual acuity improved by 2 or more lines in 8 (67%) of 12 eyes. Six (50%) of 12 eyes improved t o 20/40 or better. All 3 eyes that underwent reoperation had successfu l closure of the macular hole and achieved 2 or more lines of visual i mprovement. Conclusion: Treatment of full-thickness traumatic macular holes with vitrectomy, fluid-gas exchange, and TGF-beta-2 may result i n successful anatomic closure and visual improvement.