Abstract
Aim
To evaluate the optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) findings in cases with degenerative and tractional-subtype lamellar macular hole (LMH).
Methods
Two sub-types of LMH cases were included. Thirty-seven patients had degenerative-subtype, whereas 35 patients had tractional-subtype LMH. Thirty healthy cases were enrolled as control group. Foveal avascular zone (FAZ), retinal vascular densities in superficial, deep capillary and choriocapillaris plexuses were analyzed and compared with fellow eyes and healthy controls using OCTA.
Results
Mean FAZ area was wider in the degenerative-subtype (0.33±0.14 mm²) than the tractional-subtype (0.24±0.10 mm²) (p=0.04) and control eyes (0.26±0.10 mm2) (p=0.02). Compared with the tractional group, foveal vessel density in the superficial layer was lower in the degenerative group (29.1±6.9% vs.21.9±9.2%, p=0.01). Choriocapillaris vascular density in the parafoveal area was also lower in the degenerative-subtype lamellar macular holes ( 61.8±4.7% vs. 63.2±4.2 %) (p=0.03). The vascular densities in the DCP did not disclose any significant difference between two sub-types (p>0.05). Compared with control eyes, the vascular densities in the superficial, deep and choriocapillaris layers were significantly lower in the LMH subtypes (p<0.05).
Conclusion
These OCTA changes may indicate a primary or secondary chronic degenerative process affecting the retinal microvascular plexuses in degenerative and tractional lamellar macular holes. The distinction of the pathogenesis is also demonstrated by OCTA and supports the recent change in classification and terminology of this macular pathology.