Vitreoretinal Abnormalities during Macular Hole Repair in Alport Syndrome

Brenda Zhou; Curtis J Heisel; Ivy Zhu; Manjot K Gill

doi:10.1097/ICB.0000000000001498

Vitreoretinal Abnormalities during Macular Hole Repair in Alport Syndrome

Retin Cases Brief Rep. 2023 Oct 9. doi: 10.1097/ICB.0000000000001498. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Brenda Zhou¹, Curtis J Heisel, Ivy Zhu, Manjot K Gill

Affiliation

¹ Department of Ophthalmology, Northwestern University, 645 N Michigan Ave, Ste 440, Chicago, IL 60611.

PMID: 37824782
DOI: 10.1097/ICB.0000000000001498

Abstract

Purpose: To describe abnormal vitreoretinal findings during macular hole repair in Alport syndrome (AS).

Methods: Case report of preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative findings related to macular hole surgery in a patient with AS.

Observations: A 50-year-old woman with Alport syndrome was found to have bilateral full-thickness macular holes. Surgery was recommended for her left eye given recent onset of vision loss and smaller hole size (313 um). Intraoperatively, the vitreous was found to have fine fibrillar strands and to be abnormally adherent to the retinal surface. There was little to no internal limiting membrane (ILM) present. Vitrectomy was performed with posterior cortical hyaloid peeling and 15% C3F8 gas tamponade. Two months after surgery, the macular hole was successfully closed.

Conclusions: Abnormal vitreous composition and adherence to the retinal surface may contribute to macular hole formation in AS patients. Standard surgical approaches including ILM peeling may not be feasible, though thorough removal of the posterior cortical hyaloid may be sufficient to achieve macular hole closure.