Recurrent spontaneous closure of a full-thickness macular hole following IOL scleral fixation: A case report

To report a rare case of a full-thickness macular hole (FTMH) that underwent spontaneous closure on two separate occasions following vitrectomy and intraocular lens (IOL) scleral fixation. A 58-year-old man, who had undergone IOL scleral fixation and vitrectomy for a dislocated IOL, developed an FTMH (minimum diameter: 21 μm) in the left eye approximately one year post-surgery. While awaiting surgical intervention, the macular hole closed spontaneously two months after its discovery. Two years and nine months later, the FTMH recurred (minimum diameter: 180 μm) and closed spontaneously again within four weeks. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) confirmed the presence of epiretinal proliferation (EP) at the macular surface during both occurrences. and Importance: Small-diameter FTMHs that form after vitrectomy, particularly those with associated EP, may have the potential for spontaneous closure. This case indicates that short-term observation may be a reasonable management option for select cases of small post-vitrectomy macular holes before proceeding with further surgery.

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Publication Details

Journal
American Journal of Ophthalmology Case Reports
Published
2026-03-24
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajoc.2026.102573
Primary Topic
Retinal and Macular Surgery
Type
article
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article

Recurrent spontaneous closure of a full-thickness macular hole following IOL scleral fixation: A case report

American Journal of Ophthalmology Case Reports
Retinal and Macular Surgery
article

Recurrent spontaneous closure of a full-thickness macular hole following IOL scleral fixation: A case report

article en

Abstract

To report a rare case of a full-thickness macular hole (FTMH) that underwent spontaneous closure on two separate occasions following vitrectomy and intraocular lens (IOL) scleral fixation. A 58-year-old man, who had undergone IOL scleral fixation and vitrectomy for a dislocated IOL, developed an FTMH (minimum diameter: 21 μm) in the left eye approximately one year post-surgery. While awaiting surgical intervention, the macular hole closed spontaneously two months after its discovery. Two years and nine months later, the FTMH recurred (minimum diameter: 180 μm) and closed spontaneously again within four weeks. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) confirmed the presence of epiretinal proliferation (EP) at the macular surface during both occurrences. and Importance: Small-diameter FTMHs that form after vitrectomy, particularly those with associated EP, may have the potential for spontaneous closure. This case indicates that short-term observation may be a reasonable management option for select cases of small post-vitrectomy macular holes before proceeding with further surgery.

American Journal of Ophthalmology Case ReportsVol. 42
Tokyo Dental College (JP), Keio University Hospital (JP)
Openalex Percentile: Top 12%
Retinal and Macular Surgery
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Recurrent spontaneous closure of a full-thickness macular hole following IOL scleral fixation: A case report · American Journal of Ophthalmology Case Reports (2026) | TGRS Research Map | TGRS