Visual Acuity Recovery After Macular Hole Closure Associated With Foveal Avascular Zone Change

PURPOSE: To evaluate changes in the foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area during the postoperative period of macular hole (MH) surgery using the optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) and to investigate its relationship to visual acuity (VA). METHODS: Consecutive unilateral MH patients who underwent successful MH closure with at least a six-month observation period were studied retrospectively. To evaluate the FAZ area, OCTA images were obtained at the preoperative visit, the first postoperative visit, and the six-month visit. Main outcome measures were postoperative FAZ change and its relationship to VA change after MH closure. RESULTS: Fifty-one cases were studied. The FAZ area was 0.42 ± 0.11 mm(2) at the preoperative visit, 0.25 ± 0.091 mm(2) at the first postoperative visit and 0.31 ± 0.11 mm(2) at the six-month visit. FAZ area at the first postoperative visit was significantly smaller (P < 0.0001) than at the preoperative visit. FAZ area at the six-month visit was significantly greater (P < 0.0001) than at the first postoperative visit, but still significantly smaller (P = 0.0002) compared to the normal fellow eye. The postoperative FAZ area enlargement from the first postoperative visit to the six-month visit was significantly correlated with the postoperative VA recovery (P = 0.0322) and the postoperative photoreceptor reconstruction (P = 0.0213). CONCLUSIONS: The FAZ area once decreases along with MH closure; it thereafter increases toward the normal value over time. The postoperative FAZ change was correlated with the VA recovery. TRANSLATIONAL RELEVANCE: This study suggests that the postoperative FAZ area enlargement might be a potential biomarker indicating foveal reconstruction after MH closure.