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    <Identifier>oc000002</Identifier>
    <IdentifierDoi>10.3205/oc000002</IdentifierDoi>
    <IdentifierUrn>urn:nbn:de:0183-oc0000023</IdentifierUrn>
    <ArticleType>Case Report</ArticleType>
    <TitleGroup>
      <Title language="en">Spontaneous progression of a full-thickness macular microhole to a lamellar macular hole in spectral domain optical coherence tomography</Title>
    </TitleGroup>
    <CreatorList>
      <Creator>
        <PersonNames>
          <Lastname>Caramoy</Lastname>
          <LastnameHeading>Caramoy</LastnameHeading>
          <Firstname>Albert</Firstname>
          <Initials>A</Initials>
        </PersonNames>
        <Address>University of Cologne, Center of Ophthalmology, Department of Vitreo-Retinal Surgery, Kerpener Str. 62, 50924 Cologne, Germany, Tel.: 0049(0)221&#47;478-43 08, Fax: 0049(0)221&#47;478-35 26<Affiliation>University of Cologne, Center of Ophthalmology, Department of Vitreo-Retinal Surgery, Cologne, Germany</Affiliation></Address>
        <Email>acaramoy&#64;yahoo.co.uk</Email>
        <Creatorrole corresponding="yes" presenting="no">author</Creatorrole>
      </Creator>
      <Creator>
        <PersonNames>
          <Lastname>Fauser</Lastname>
          <LastnameHeading>Fauser</LastnameHeading>
          <Firstname>Sascha</Firstname>
          <Initials>S</Initials>
        </PersonNames>
        <Address>
          <Affiliation>University of Cologne, Center of Ophthalmology, Department of Vitreo-Retinal Surgery, Cologne, Germany</Affiliation>
        </Address>
        <Creatorrole corresponding="no" presenting="no">author</Creatorrole>
      </Creator>
      <Creator>
        <PersonNames>
          <Lastname>Kirchhof</Lastname>
          <LastnameHeading>Kirchhof</LastnameHeading>
          <Firstname>Bernd</Firstname>
          <Initials>B</Initials>
        </PersonNames>
        <Address>
          <Affiliation>University of Cologne, Center of Ophthalmology, Department of Vitreo-Retinal Surgery, Cologne, Germany</Affiliation>
        </Address>
        <Creatorrole corresponding="no" presenting="no">author</Creatorrole>
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    <PublisherList>
      <Publisher>
        <Corporation>
          <Corporatename>German Medical Science GMS Publishing House</Corporatename>
        </Corporation>
        <Address>D&#252;sseldorf</Address>
      </Publisher>
    </PublisherList>
    <SubjectGroup>
      <SubjectheadingDDB>610</SubjectheadingDDB>
      <Keyword language="en">macular hole</Keyword>
      <Keyword language="en">macular pucker</Keyword>
      <Keyword language="en">macula</Keyword>
      <Keyword language="en">retina</Keyword>
      <Keyword language="en">spectral domain optical coherence tomography</Keyword>
    </SubjectGroup>
    <DatePublishedList>
      
    <DatePublished>20110915</DatePublished><DateRepublished>20160310</DateRepublished></DatePublishedList>
    <Language>engl</Language>
    <License license-type="open-access" xlink:href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/">
      <AltText language="en">This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License. You are free: to Share - to copy, distribute and transmit the work, provided the original author and source are credited.</AltText>
      <AltText language="de">Dieser Artikel ist ein Open Access-Artikel und steht unter den Creative Commons Lizenzbedingungen. Er darf vervielf&#228;ltigt, verbreitet und &#246;ffentlich zug&#228;nglich gemacht werden, vorausgesetzt dass Autor und Quelle genannt werden.</AltText>
    </License>
    <SourceGroup>
      <Journal>
        <ISSN>2193-1496</ISSN>
        <Volume>1</Volume>
        <JournalTitle>GMS Ophthalmology Cases</JournalTitle>
        <JournalTitleAbbr>GMS Ophthalmol Cases</JournalTitleAbbr>
      </Journal>
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    <ArticleNo>02</ArticleNo>
    <Correction><DateLastCorrection>20160309</DateLastCorrection>ISSN erg&#228;nzt</Correction>
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    <Abstract language="en" linked="yes"><Pgraph>We presented a case of full-thickness macular hole progressing into lamellar macular hole as seen in the spectral domain optical coherence tomography. Short review of the literature regarding the pathogenesis of lamellar hole was presented and discussed.</Pgraph></Abstract>
    <TextBlock linked="yes" name="Introduction">
      <MainHeadline>Introduction</MainHeadline><Pgraph>The differential diagnosis of macular hole includes lamellar macular hole. Unlike full-thickness macular holes, lamellar holes tend to have better prognosis <TextLink reference="1"></TextLink>. Haouchine et al. described the characteristics of lamellar macular hole (LH) in time domain optical coherence tomography (TD-OCT) as non-full-thickness defects with an irregular foveal contour and a schisis between inner and outer retinal layers <TextLink reference="2"></TextLink>. However the pathogenesis of lamellar holes remains controversial. Some authors described cases of lamellar holes as resulting from vitreo-foveal traction <TextLink reference="3"></TextLink>, <TextLink reference="4"></TextLink>, other authors suggested though in a study with spectral domain optical coherence tomographic (SD-OCT) that contraction of epiretinal membranes is the cause of lamellar holes <TextLink reference="5"></TextLink>. In this case report we present a case of a lamellar macular hole development without vitreo-foveal traction, thereby supporting the second hypothesis that lamellar holes might be caused by epiretinal membrane contraction. </Pgraph></TextBlock>
    <TextBlock linked="yes" name="Case report">
      <MainHeadline>Case report</MainHeadline><Pgraph>A 72-year-old man was referred to our clinic with a full thickness macular microhole (FTMMH) in his right eye. The hole diameter in SD-OCT was less than 150 &#181;m, thereby fulfill the definition of FTMMH <TextLink reference="6"></TextLink>. Far visual acuity (FVA) was 20&#47;40 for the right eye and 20&#47;20 for the left. Reading visual acuity (RVA) was 20&#47;32 for the right eye and 20&#47;25 for the left. SD-OCT showed a FTMMH with pseudo-operculum (Figure 1 <ImgLink imgNo="1" imgType="figure"/>), no epiretinal membrane was seen on the nasal part of the macula (Figure 2 <ImgLink imgNo="2" imgType="figure"/>). Nineteen days later SD-OCT showed that the FTMMH had closed spontaneously (Figure 3 <ImgLink imgNo="3" imgType="figure"/>). FVA was 20&#47;32 and RVA was 20&#47;40.</Pgraph><Pgraph>Two months later FVA was 20&#47;40 and RVA was 20&#47;20. SD-OCT showed a lamellar macular hole (LH) and a macular pucker on the nasal part of the macula (Figure 4 <ImgLink imgNo="4" imgType="figure"/> and Figure 5 <ImgLink imgNo="5" imgType="figure"/>, arrow), which did not exist previously (cf. Figure 1 <ImgLink imgNo="1" imgType="figure"/> and Figure 2 <ImgLink imgNo="2" imgType="figure"/>). This condition persisted until the last follow up visit (6 months).</Pgraph></TextBlock>
    <TextBlock linked="yes" name="Discussion">
      <MainHeadline>Discussion</MainHeadline><Pgraph>The development of a LH is thought to be either due to vitreo-foveal adhesion and traction leading to the rupture of a inner retinal cyst <TextLink reference="7"></TextLink> or due to contraction of epiretinal membranes without vitreous traction <TextLink reference="5"></TextLink>, <TextLink reference="8"></TextLink>. With the development of SD-OCT it is now possible to examine the vitreo-retinal interface in more detail. By using an eye-tracking system, these examinations can be done repetitively. We presented a case of FTMMH evolving into LH after the occurrence of an epiretinal membrane. The posterior vitreous was already detached, therefore no vitreous traction existed Nevertheless the formation of an epiretinal membrane was associated with the formation of a LH. This pathogenesis is very similar to the pathogenesis of a macular pseudohole. This case supports the findings by Michalewski et al. <TextLink reference="5"></TextLink>, in which the contraction of epiretinal membranes were suggested to cause of lamellar hole formation, rather than vitreo-foveal traction.</Pgraph></TextBlock>
    <TextBlock linked="yes" name="Notes">
      <MainHeadline>Notes</MainHeadline><Pgraph>The authors declare that they have no competing interests.</Pgraph></TextBlock>
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          <Caption><Pgraph><Mark1>Figure 1: FTMH with pseudo-operculum. No epiretinal membrane on the nasal side of the macula.</Mark1></Pgraph></Caption>
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          <Caption><Pgraph><Mark1>Figure 2: FTMH with pseudo-operculum. No epiretinal membrane on the nasal side of the macula.</Mark1></Pgraph></Caption>
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          <Caption><Pgraph><Mark1>Figure 3: FTMH has spontaneously closed.</Mark1></Pgraph></Caption>
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          <Caption><Pgraph><Mark1>Figure 4: The FTMH has developed into LH. Epiretinal membrane is seen on the nasal side of the macula.</Mark1></Pgraph></Caption>
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          <Caption><Pgraph><Mark1>Figure 5: The FTMH has developed into LH. Epiretinal membrane is seen on the nasal side of the macula (arrow).</Mark1></Pgraph></Caption>
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