Macular Hole

A macular hole can cause changes in the center of your vision, making tasks like reading or driving challenging. At THIRDCOAST RETINA in Kenosha, Wisconsin, retina specialist Clinton Warren, MD, and the team repair macular holes with a procedure called vitrectomy. To find out if you’re a candidate for macular hole treatment, call Third Coast Retina or schedule an appointment online today.

What is a macular hole?

The macula is a region of tissue in the center of your retina. There are multiple complications that can affect the macula, and one of them is a macular hole. It’s a tear in the center of your retina due to stretching or pulling on the macula. 

Many people experience a macular pucker before developing a macular hole. A macular pucker also affects your central vision. While that condition doesn’t need treatment unless the symptoms are severe, Dr. Warren will want to keep a close eye on it to prevent a macular hole.

What are the symptoms of a macular hole?

A macular hole affects your central vision but doesn’t result in a decline in your peripheral vision. Some people don’t notice any symptoms from a macular hole because their other eye continues to function perfectly. If symptoms occur, you can expect them to set in slowly.

Possible macular hole symptoms include:

  • Bended or wavy vision

  • A blurry or blind spot in the center of your visual field

  • Reading difficulties

  • Trouble seeing fine details

A macular hole doesn’t cause any pain, and it doesn’t cause a total loss of vision. If you have symptoms, Dr. Warren and the team at THIRDCOAST RETINA use optical coherence tomography (OCT) to take pictures of your retina using light to detect the hole. 

How are macular holes treated?

A macular hole is the easiest to treat in its earliest stages, so you should schedule an appointment at THIRDCOAST RETINA immediately after noticing a change in your eyesight. The primary treatment for macular holes is a surgery called vitrectomy. 

During vitrectomy at THIRDCOAST RETINA, Dr. Warren removes the vitreous from your eye — a gel-like substance inside your eye that helps it hold its structure. He replaces the vitreous with an artificial vitreous. He also injects an air bubble into your eye, which holds the edges of the hole together and helps your eye heal. 

Limiting your activities for a time after a vitrectomy helps you make a complete recovery and keeps the bubble in place as your eye heals. Avoid activities that raise the pressure inside your eye, like flying or using nitrous oxide at the dentist until the hole has healed. 

For more information about macular holes and how treatment repairs them, call THIRDCOAST RETINA or schedule an appointment online today.