Purpose: To report a case of a patient who suffered a full thickness macular hole (FTMH) due to the accidental utilization of the selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) mode of a dual mode laser.
Method: Case report.
Results: A 69-year-old woman experienced vision loss in her left eye immediately after undergoing attempted Neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Nd:YAG) capsulotomy using a Nd:YAG-SLT laser system. Post-injury visual acuity was 20/25 and 20/800 in the right and left eyes, respectively. Ophthalmic exam and multimodal imaging revealed multiple macular hemorrhages and an irregular FTMH. The patient required multiple surgeries including an autologous retinal transplant to achieve hole closure.
Conclusions: Macular hole formation is a devastating consequence of inadvertent use of the SLT mode when performing a Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy with a Nd:YAG-SLT laser system. We emphasize the importance of ensuring the correct mode is selected for treatment to minimize the risk of retinal damage and permanent vision loss.