Macular hole
Macular hole
What is the macula?
The macula is a small, specialised area of the retina — the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye.
It contains cells called photoreceptors that detect light and allow us to see fine details. You can think of the macula like the film in a camera, capturing the image that is then sent to the brain through the optic nerve.
When the macula is damaged, the eye cannot process light properly, and vision becomes distorted or blurred, especially in the centre of your sight.
What is a macula hole?
A macular hole occurs when there is a defect in the cell layers of the central macula.
It can cause blurred central vision as well as distorted central vision (“metamorphopsia”).
What is the treatment for a macula hole?
If a macula hole is significant and affecting vision, it is most commonly treated with surgery known as a vitrectomy.
Vitrectomy is “keyhole” microsurgery, in which the vitreous gel inside the eye is removed and the macula hole is closed usually with the use or gas.