Demographics
Twenty-one eyes of 21 patients (6 male and 15 female) were analyzed in this study. Patient ages ranged from 29 to 69 years (mean: 51.1 ± 10.5 years). Two patients had type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM), and the other 19 patients (90.5%) had type 2 DM. The four most common comorbidities were hypertension, dyslipidemia, heart disease, and chronic kidney disease in 9 patients (9 eyes), 8 patients (8 eyes), 3 patients (3 eyes), and 3 patients (3 eyes), respectively. The average time duration from a prehole stage or the first clinic visit to FTMH detection was 19.1 ± 27.0 months (range: 0 to 100 months; median: 9 months). MHRD was found in 14 eyes (66.7%) whereas FTMH without RD was observed in 7 eyes (33.3%). The average MH minimal diameter of all eyes was 431 ± 206 μm. In eyes with MH and without RD, the average MH minimal diameter was 318 ± 122 μm and the average base diameter was 846 ± 449 μm. In eyes with MHRD, the average MH minimal diameter was 488 ± 219 μm. At the time of FTMH formation, 2 eyes (9.5%) had grade 4 FVP, 5 eyes (23.8%) had grade 3 FVP, 10 eyes (47.6%) had grade 2 FVP, and 4 eyes (19.0%) had grade 1 FVP, while 13 eyes (61.9%) had fibrotic FVP, and 8 eyes (38.1%) had active FVP. The locations of FVP were complete arcade type in 2 eyes (9.5%), incomplete arcade type in 13 eyes (61.9%), central type in 3 eyes (14.3%), and widespread type in 3 eyes (14.3%).
Before the formation of FTMHs, PRP was performed in 16 eyes (76.2%) and intravitreal injection of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) was performed in 9 eyes (42.9%). One patient lost to follow-up after the diagnosis of FTMH was made. The average follow-up duration of the remaining 20 eyes was 44.8 ± 35.5 months (range: 4 to 117 months; median: 42 months). Spontaneous closure of FTMH was found in 3 of the 20 eyes (15.0%) with a duration of 2, 4 and 19 months, respectively. The other 17 eyes (85.0%) received vitrectomy for treatment of FTMH. Table 1 summarized the data for each eye in this study.
Table 1
Characteristics of Each Eye in This Study.
Age
|
Gender
|
Laterality
|
SE †
|
Initial BCVA (Snellen)
|
Lens status
|
FVP severity
|
FVP locations
|
MH minimal diameter (μm)
|
MH basal diameter (μm)
|
MHRD
|
Type of MH formation
|
Late foveal contour
|
Final BCVA (Snellen)
|
55
|
F
|
R
|
2.25
|
1.301 (20/400)
|
Phakic
|
1
|
Central
|
456
|
1039
|
N
|
2
|
U
|
0.398 (20/50)
|
41
|
M
|
L
|
9.00
|
2 (20/2000)
|
Phakic
|
3
|
Widespread
|
239
|
N/A
|
Y
|
4
|
U
|
0.824 (20/133)
|
66
|
F
|
L
|
-
|
0.523 (20/67)
|
Pseudophakic
|
1
|
Central
|
259
|
594
|
N
|
2
|
U
|
0.824(20/133)
|
63
|
F
|
R
|
3.00
|
1.9 (20/1589)
|
Phakic
|
4
|
Widespread
|
884
|
N/A
|
Y
|
2
|
W
|
2 (20/2000)
|
38
|
F
|
L
|
-3.75
|
1.495 (20/625)
|
Phakic
|
2
|
Incomplete
|
640
|
N/A
|
Y
|
1
|
V
|
0.796 (20/125)
|
57
|
F
|
R
|
0.50
|
1.301 (20/400)
|
Phakic
|
2
|
Incomplete
|
632
|
N/A
|
Y
|
3
|
partially attached
|
2.4 (20/5024)
|
53
|
F
|
R
|
-0.25
|
0.699 (20/100)
|
Phakic
|
2
|
Incomplete
|
213
|
213
|
N
|
1
|
U
|
0.523 (20/67)
|
39
|
F
|
R
|
-1.00
|
2 (20/2000)
|
Phakic
|
2
|
Complete
|
710
|
N/A
|
Y
|
4
|
|
|
54
|
M
|
L
|
2.00
|
1.301 (20/400)
|
Phakic
|
2
|
Incomplete
|
472
|
838
|
N
|
1
|
U
|
0.699 (20/100)
|
47
|
F
|
R
|
1.50
|
1.398 (20/500)
|
Phakic
|
3
|
Complete
|
610
|
N/A
|
Y
|
3
|
U
|
0.699 (20/100)
|
69
|
F
|
R
|
1.75
|
2.3 (20/3990)
|
Phakic
|
1
|
Central
|
136
|
N/A
|
Y
|
1
|
W
|
2.4 (20/5024)
|
53
|
F
|
L
|
-0.25
|
1.398 (20/500)
|
Phakic
|
2
|
Incomplete
|
322
|
1778
|
Y
|
1
|
V
|
0.301 (20/40)
|
45
|
F
|
L
|
-1.25
|
0.699 (20/100)
|
Phakic
|
2
|
Incomplete
|
173
|
482
|
N
|
2
|
U
|
0.398 (20/50)
|
59
|
M
|
R
|
0.75
|
1.699 (20/1000)
|
Phakic
|
2
|
Incomplete
|
164
|
N/A
|
Y
|
2
|
U
|
0.824(20/133)
|
29
|
F
|
R
|
-2.00
|
0.824 (20/133)
|
Phakic
|
3
|
Incomplete
|
452
|
N/A
|
Y
|
3
|
V
|
0.201 (20/32)
|
43
|
F
|
L
|
-1.00
|
1.301 (20/400)
|
Phakic
|
2
|
Incomplete
|
579
|
N/A
|
Y
|
4
|
W
|
0.398 (20/50)
|
40
|
M
|
L
|
-1.50
|
0.699 (20/100)
|
Phakic
|
2
|
Incomplete
|
401
|
1296
|
N
|
2
|
U
|
2 (20/2000)
|
59
|
F
|
R
|
1.50
|
1.9 (20/1589)
|
Phakic
|
4
|
Widespread
|
598
|
N/A
|
Y
|
2
|
U
|
2 (20/2000)
|
59
|
F
|
L
|
2.25
|
1.9 (20/1589)
|
Pseudophakic
|
3
|
Incomplete
|
517
|
N/A
|
Y
|
3
|
W
|
2 (20/2000)
|
60
|
M
|
L
|
-0.50
|
1 (20/200)
|
Phakic
|
1
|
Incomplete
|
252
|
1459
|
N
|
2
|
W
|
1 (20/200)
|
45
|
M
|
L
|
-0.25
|
1.699(20/1000)
|
Phakic
|
3
|
Incomplete
|
352
|
N/A
|
Y
|
1
|
W
|
2 (20/2000)
|
BCVA = best-corrected visual acuity; Complete = complete arcade type; F = female; FVP = fibrovascular proliferation; Incomplete = incomplete arcade type; M = male; MH = macular hole; MHRD = macular hole retinal detachment; N = no (no MHRD); N/A = not applicable; SE= spherical equivalent; Y = yes (MHRD).
†1/20 SE was not available
|
Structural changes of formation of FTMH
Four different types of FTMH formation pathways in PDR could be identified. Type 1 was observed in 6 eyes (28.6%) and was characterized by ERM and/or VMT causing foveoschisis, intraretinal cysts or foveal detachment, followed by formation of a FTMH or MHRD (Figure 1). Type 2 was found in 8 eyes (38.1%), and in this type, LMH with foveoschisis was the characteristic feature, which was induced by ERM (Figure 2) or tractional retinoschisis (TRS) (Figure 3) and it finally progressed into a FTMH or MHRD.
Type 3 was detected in 4 eyes (19.0%), and was characterized by the initial tractional retinal detachment (TRD) with foveal cysts and/or foveoschisis and subsequent formation of MHRD (Figure 4). Type 4 was noticed in 3 eyes (14.3%) and was characterized by TRD causing foveal thinning, ensued by the formation of MHRD because of persistent tractions (Figure 5).
Different types of pathways were not statistically associated with age, gender, laterality, DM type, BCVA at the time of FTMH formation, lens status, MH size, MHRD, FVP severity, FVP activity, CMT, follow-up duration, final BCVA, early and final foveal contours; however, they were significantly associated with the presence of ERM/VMT (p = 0.001), TRD (p < 0.001), LMH (p < 0.001) and foveal thinning (p < 0.001). Predominantly more eyes in type 1 and type 2 groups had ERM/VMT than those in types 3 and 4. On the other hand, much more eyes in types 3 and 4 had TRD. Overall, the edges of FTMH were flat in 15 eyes (71.4%). Flat hole edges were observed in 5 eyes (83.3%), 5 eyes (62.5%), 2 eyes (50.0%), and 3 eyes (100.0%), in types 1, 2 (Figure 3d), 3 and 4 (Figure 5d), respectively. Active FVP was found in 2 eyes (33.3%), 1 eye (12.5%), 2 eyes (50%), and 3 eyes (100.0%) in types 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively. Two of the 3 eyes with spontaneous closure of FTMH belonged to type 2 FTMH formation pathway and FTMH closed spontaneously at 2 and 4 months, respectively. The other one presenting with MHRD belonged to type 1. In this case, the patient preferred not to have surgery, and during follow-up, the retina was reattached and spontaneous closure of FTMH was observed 19 months later. Although statistical investigation of the associated features was not possible because of the small number of cases, eyes with spontaneous closure of FTMH seemed to have better BCVA at the time of FTMH formation (logMAR 0.97 vs. logMAR 1.48) and smaller minimal MH diameter (261 μm vs. 460 μm) when compared to eyes without spontaneous closure of FTMH.
Eyes with MHRD were associated with poorer BCVA (LogMAR 1.67 vs. LogMAR 0.89, p < 0.001), shorter duration of FTMH formation (12.9 months vs. 31.7 months, p = 0.038), higher proportion of grade 3 and grade 4 FVP (50.0% vs. 0%, p = 0.030), higher proportion of active FVP (57.1% vs. 0%, p = 0.015), lower rate of ERM/VMT (42.9% vs. 100.0%, p = 0.015), and higher rate of TRD (50.0% vs. 0%, p = 0.030) when compared to those with FTMH and without RD. FVP severity was associated with its location (p < 0.001), and the presence of TRD (p = 0.047) as well as LMH (p = 0.043). Both of the 2 eyes with grade 4 FVP belonged to widespread type. All of the 3 eyes with central type FVP location had grade 1 FVP severity. Eyes with grade 3 FVP had predilection for TRD. Six of the 8 eyes (75.0%) with LMH had grade 1 or grade 2 FVP.
Anatomical and functional outcomes
FTMHs were closed in 18 of the 20 eyes (90.0%) at three months after surgery or spontaneous closure, and in 20 eyes (100.0%) at the last follow-up. Retina was completely attached in 18 eyes (90.0%) and partially attached in 2 eyes (10.0%) at 3 months as well as at the last follow-up. Several foveal contours were noted at the last follow-up: U-, V-, W-shaped closure in 10 eyes (50.0%), 3 eyes (15.0%), and 6 eyes (30.0%), respectively, and partial retinal detachment in 1 eye (5.0%) (Table 1). BCVA improved from LogMAR 1.41 ± 0.53 to 1.15 ± 0.66 (p = 0.038) at 3 months postoperatively or 3 months after MH spontaneous closure and 1.13 ± 0.77 (p = 0.133) at the last follow-up. Thirteen eyes (65.0%) achieved a final visual acuity of 20/200 or better. BCVA improved or was stable in 17 eyes (85.0%) at the last follow-up.