Surgical outcome of full-thickness macular hole secondary to tractional retinal detachment in proliferative diabetic retinopathy

PURPOSE: To evaluate the surgical outcome of full-thickness macular hole (FTMH) secondary to active fibrovascular proliferation (FVP) and tractional retinal detachment (TRD) in eyes with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR), and factors influencing the outcome. METHODS: This retrospective study included the patients who underwent vitrectomy for FTMH secondary to PDR TRD from 2016 to 2020. Anatomical and visual outcomes were analyzed after six months along with the factors predicting the final outcome and duration of subretinal fluid (SRF) resolution. RESULTS: Group A (macula-off combined RD, i.e., tractional and rhegmatogenous) included 10 eyes, while group B (macula-threatening TRD) included eight eyes. The mean best-corrected visual acuity improved from logMAR 1.21 (Snellen equivalent: 20/324) to logMAR 0.76 (Snellen equivalent: 20/115) (P = 0.008). Seventeen patients gained ≥1 line(s) of vision. Mean visual gain in groups A and B was 3.7 ± 1.9 and 1.9 ± 1.1 lines, respectively (P = 0.051). MH closed in 88.9% eyes. Type 1 anatomical closure was achieved in 88.9% of eyes. At 6 months, SRF and central macular thickness reduced from 479.6 ± 512.5 μm to 11.4 ± 23.5 μm (P = 0.002) and 874.3 ± 422.6 μm to 207.6 ± 81.7 μm (P = 0.0002), respectively. Finally, macular SRF resolved in all the patients. The mean duration for complete SRF resolution was 4.9 ± 3.2 months. Eyes with a shorter duration of diabetes mellitus (rho = −0.49, P = 0.040) and macula-off combined RD (P = 0.048) took a longer time for complete SRF resolution. CONCLUSION: Good anatomical and visual outcomes can be achieved in eyes with PDR TRD-associated FTMH. The residual macular SRF resolves slowly after the surgery and extra intervention is not required. Macula-off combined RD is associated with worse outcome and a slower SRF resolution rate.