A macular hole is an eye injury that affects the central area of the retina, known as the macula. The macula is responsible for our central vision, allowing us to read, drive, and recognize faces in detail. A macular hole occurs when the layers of the retina in this central area break, leading to a loss of central vision.
Symptoms
The symptoms of this condition can appear suddenly or gradually and may include:
- Blurred or distorted vision in the central area of vision.
- Straight lines appearing wavy or distorted.
- A spot or dark dot in the center of the visual field.
- Difficulty reading or performing tasks that require fine vision.
Causes of Macular Hole
The most common cause of a macular hole is the aging of eye tissue. As we age, the vitreous gel, a jelly-like substance that fills the inside of the eye, becomes more liquid and may pull away from the retina. However, there are other less common causes that include:
- High myopia.
- Eye trauma.
- Eye inflammation.
- Epiretinal membranes.
To make an accurate diagnosis, a comprehensive eye examination is performed by an ophthalmologist. The ophthalmologist will dilate the pupils to examine the macula and retina in detail. They may also perform tests such as optical coherence tomography (OCT) of the macula, which provides a detailed image of the macula and retina.
