Stage One Macular Holes in Both Eyes

[DLW54]

I had custom lasik eye surgery last June, which was successful.  My vision has been great until I noticed what I thought was regression.  I have been to my optometrist every month ever since and at the last two visits, I told him about the problem and I thought I needed "tweeking".  I went back to the laser opthamologist and he took pictures of my retina and saw a problem.  He sent me to a retina specialist who discovered I now have a macular hole in both eyes.  I have never had a problem with my eye health until now.  The doctors assure me this has nothing to do with the lasik surgery.  But why is this happening now, after the surgery, when I should have this great glasses-free vision (I have worn glasses since second grade and I am now 54).  What causes this?  I am scared.  The specialist told me the holes may heal themselves and he wants to take more pictures in one month.  I would like to know if there is anything I can do that will help these macular holes heal themselves so I won't have to have the surgery.  Are there any vitamins I should be taking?  Or anything else?  Thank you.

[Sandra M Brown, MD]

Sorry I didn't read the entire title to see that you do have stage 1 holes.  If your eyes are otherwise healthy and you are otherwise healthy, there is a good chance of spontaneous closure.

[DLW54]

Thank you for replying.  I have certainly not let the doctors think that I would sue them for my eye problems.  I did have to ask the question, though,  if the macular holes may have been caused by the lasik surgery, because it is such an odd coincidence that I have gotten this condition after I had the lasik.  I know I have the best doctors and they did not make any mistakes.  I am not lawsuit happy and have never sued anyone for anything.  That being said, my next question to you is "If the holes are going to heal themselves, do you know how long it will take for them to heal?  Have you ever heard of anyone's holes healing on their own without the surgery?  Thank you.  Deboah L. West

[Sandra M Brown, MD]

No vitamins will help.  I am guessing you have a very low stage macular hole (like stage 1) and these often do get better on their own.  You have already seen the right kind of doctor, a retina specialist.  So hang tight.  As to whether there is any relationship to the LASIK surgery...millions of people have had refractive surgery, so if there was a definite causal relationship between LASIK and macular holes we would know about it.  That is not to say that in your specific case the two things are unrelated, because there is no rule that says you have to act like the 'average' patient.  But there is no definite evidence to support a connection and you will not get anywhere trying to blame the macular holes on the LASIK; it will not change the treatment of the macular holes, and it could make your doctors paranoid about being sued and unwilling to care for you.