Does a macular hole require surgery?

Macular holes do not always require surgery. Between 10 and 11 percent of full-thickness holes in the retina of the eye close spontaneously, and there is some evidence that injections of ocriplasmin increase the rate of spontaneous closure. Spontaneous closure is more likely with partial-thickness holes.

The macula is the portion of the retina where fine focusing of vision occurs. When a hole develops here, the most common symptom is a sudden decrease in vision in one eye. Because there is a 10 to 12 percent risk that the other eye will also develop a macular hole, medical attention for this condition is important to preserve vision. Surgery remains the primary treatment for full-thickness holes.