Purpose: To determine the characteristics of the macular dehiscence-associated epiretinal proliferations (EPs) in eyes with full-thickness macular holes (MHs).
Methods: The presence of EPs and the integrity of the retinal microstructures in eyes with MHs were determined by spectral domain optical coherence tomography in 390 eyes of 379 patients (29-89 years). The clinical findings, closure of the MH, the preoperative and postoperative best-corrected visual acuity, and the microstructural changes were compared between eyes with and without EPs.
Results: Epiretinal proliferations were detected in 31 of 390 eyes (7.9%). The preoperative best-corrected visual acuity and duration of reduced vision were not significantly different in the group with and without EPs (P = 0.09, P = 0.28). The axial lengths were significantly longer (P = 0.001), MH stage more advanced (P = 0.006), and the incidence of epiretinal membranes (P < 0.001) and intraretinal splitting (P < 0.001) were higher in eyes with EP. The EP was significantly correlated with the length of the ellipsoid zone defects (P < 0.001) and medium-reflective bridging tissue over the closed MH (P < 0.001). The closure rates and postoperative best-corrected visual acuities were not significantly different between the two groups (P > 0.99, P = 0.99).
Conclusion: The presence of EP was correlated with retinal microstructural changes and may support postoperative visual improvements with medium-reflective bridging tissue over the closed MH.