LASIK Los Angeles experts can explain what macular holes are for patients that want to know. Macular holes are different from macular degeneration. The former is a rare eye condition that research shows only affects around eight out of every one hundred thousand people in their lifetime.
LASIK surgeons in Los Angeles inform us that the macula is the part of the eye that processes a person’s central vision. Not only is the macula vital to a person’s central vision, but it is also responsible for color vision.
A macular hole is a small gap or break that opens at the macula. The macula is an oval-shaped area that can be found at the center of the retina. Doctors more commonly see macular holes present themselves in older patients.
It is worth mentioning that doctors rarely see a patient that exhibits macular holes in both of their eyes.
LASIK Los Angeles experts define three different stages of a macular hole:
- Foveal detachments (Stage 1)
- Partial-thickness (Stage 2)
- Full-thickness holes (Stage 3)
If left untreated, macular holes can easily progress stages and cause vision loss in a patient’s affected eye. It is important to note that eye surgery is reported to be ninety-five percent effective for treatment.
Although LASIK surgery cannot necessarily treat macular holes, you will want to think about getting laser eye surgery in Los Angeles if you have the condition of macular holes under control and you want to improve your vision health.
Consider scheduling an appointment today with Dr. Moosa at Excel Eye’s LASIK center near Sherman Oaks.
Symptoms of Macular Holes
Here are some of the symptoms that patients with macular holes may present. Patients who have macular holes are advised to seek immediate medical attention.
- Distorted vision- a patient may perceive straight lines as wavy.
- Blurry vision– a patient may report the sensation of looking through a thick fog or wavy glass
- An inability, or reduced ability, to see small print details when looking straight at an object, regardless of whether or not the object is close or far away.
- A visible dark spot in the eye’s field of vision.
If you are dealing with any of the aforementioned symptoms of macular holes, you are likely to benefit from scheduling an appointment with your doctor to discuss treatment options.
Treatment for Macular Holes
Patients with macular holes will be pleased to learn that macular holes are a treatable condition. A surgeon will typically recommend a vitrectomy as an intervention. Vitrectomy is a surgical procedure that involves removing the vitreous humor from the patient’s eyeball. At the end of the surgery, the surgeon may inject a gas bubble into the patient’s eye. The bubble is injected to keep the macula in a certain position and acts as a temporary bandage for healing purposes.
If you think you may be developing macular holes, we recommend reaching out to LASIK Los Angeles center, Excel Laser Vision Institute, as soon as possible. Dr. Moosa can evaluate the condition of your eyes and approve surgery if you are qualified.