Purpose: To assess the surgical success rates of modern macular hole repair with elimination of face down positioning.
Methods: A review of data for 72 eyes (from 102 consecutive cases) with idiopathic macular holes treated surgically between 1998 and 2004 was performed. Exclusion criteria consisted of macular hole for >1 year or of unknown duration and macular holes from secondary causes. All patients were evaluated and surgically managed by one surgeon (R.T.).
Results: Average preoperative best spectacle corrected visual acuity (BSCVA) was 20/170 (6/51). Six patients had a grade II hole, 60 patients had a grade III hole, and 6 patients, had a grade IV hole. Anatomical success was achieved in 92% of cases with 1 operation, and the average postoperative BSCVA was 20/46 (6/14). Six patients required additional surgical management to achieve anatomical success with an average postoperative BSCVA of 20/55 (6/16.5). The postoperative BSCVA improved an average of 5.7 lines from baseline.
Conclusion: Favorable anatomical and BSCVA outcomes were achieved with the elimination of face down positioning in the postoperative period. Additional benefits are an increase in patient acceptance and compliance and the number of patients eligible for the procedure.