Complications of macular hole surgery

Macular hole is a serious vision-threatening disease for which, until the early 1990s, no effective treatment was available. However, with advanced techniques in microsurgical vitrectomy surgery, effective and successful closure of macular holes now can be obtained. Many complications can occur after any ocular surgery. Some of the specific complications associated with macular hole surgery are RPE alterations, retinal detachments, CME, subretinal neovascular membrane, endophthalmitis, hypopyon, late re-opening of macular holes, increased intraocular pressure, visual field defects, and cataract formation. Because macular hole surgery is a relatively recent operation devised in the last 8 years, data on complications still are being compiled and studied to understand and minimize the rates of complications after such surgery. We hope that, in the future, the rate of complications after macular hole surgery will be no higher than that for any other ophthalmic procedure.