CLINICOPATHOLOGICAL CORRELATION OF A MACULAR HOLE TREATED BY CORTICALVITREOUS PEELING AND GAS TAMPONADE

Purpose: To study the histopathology of a stage III macular hole that had been treated by vitrectomy with cortical vitreous and epicortical vitreous membrane peeling and gas tamponade. Methods: The light and el ectron microscopic features of a treated macular hole was studied. Res ults: A 16-mu m-wide break was present in the external limiting membra ne. This was sealed by Muller cell processes. Photoreceptors adjacent to the healed defect appeared normal. No cystoid macular edema was pre sent. Conclusion: Cortical vitreous peeling and gas tamponade can allo w the macular hole to settle and the edges to re-approximate. The resi dual defect can be sealed by Muller cells.