LAMELLAR MACULAR HOLES IN THE PRESENCE OF AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION

Purpose: To investigate whether age-related macular degeneration (AMD) has an influence on the prevalence and anatomical characteristics of lamellar macular holes (LMHs). Methods: Clinical records and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography images of 756 eyes of 423 consecutive patients diagnosed with AMD were reviewed and analyzed. Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography was used to identify degenerative or tractional LMH subtypes and assess their morphology. The clinical and optical coherence tomography findings of AMD eyes with LMH were compared with those of a control group of eyes with LMH without AMD from a previously published report. Results: Lamellar macular holes were identified in 25 eyes of 23 patients (3.3%; 25 of 756). Seventeen of 25 eyes (68%) presented with degenerative LMH and underlying late neovascular AMD. Mean best-corrected visual acuity was worse in eyes with AMD and LMH eyes than in those with AMD and no LMH (20/230 vs. 20/98; P = 0.02). The mean outer diameter was greater in the group with degenerative LMH with concomitant AMD than in the control group of degenerative LMH without AMD (1,323.9 +/- 999.1 mu m vs. 905.9 +/- 356.8 mu m, respectively; P = 0.01). Conclusion: The incidence of degenerative LMH increased in advanced forms of AMD, whereas the presence of tractional LMH subtype may be unrelated to AMD evolution.