Development of macular holes in diabetic retinopathy with fibrovascular proliferation: Report of four cases

There are yet no reports in the literature describing the mechanism of macular hole (MH) formation associated with fibrovascular proliferation in proliferative diabetic retinopathy. We report four cases of MHs in diabetic retinopathy with fibrovascular proliferation; formation of MHs were studied using sequential pre-MH optical coherence tomography (OCT). In Case 1, initial OCT revealed tractional schisis and cysts with fovea detachment. An MH with bowl-shaped detachment was noted within 6 weeks. In Case 2, initial OCT revealed thickened posterior hyaloid membrane with vitreomacular traction. Five and a half years later, OCT showed MH formation with possible vitreomacular separation. Some epiretinal membrane was also noted in the macula area. In Case 3, initial OCT revealed tractional retinal elevation from the superonasal area to the fovea with macular thinning. An MH with detachment developed 7 weeks later. In Case 4, initial OCT revealed macula-involved retinal detachment with traction. An MH was noted 4 weeks later. The analysis of sequential OCT findings in these four cases suggests that strong vitreoretinal adhesion and traction of fibrovascular proliferation may induce an MH without going through the same evolutionary phases as those characteristic of idiopathic MHs.