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Spontaneous self-resolution of vitreomacular diseases: a three-case report

Spontanremission vitreomakulärer Erkrankungen: Bericht über 3 Fälle

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Summary

Background

In many cases, macular hole and epiretinal membrane require surgical therapy. In rare cases, spontaneous resolution is possible.

Patients and methods

Three cases of vitreoretinal diseases are presented: one case of spontaneous closure of an idiopathic stage III macular hole and two cases of spontaneous self-resolution of an epiretinal membrane.

Results

The idiopathic stage III macular hole resolved after a period of more than 6 years of observation. The idiopathic epiretinal membranes separated spontaneously after several months to years of observation.

Conclusion

Awareness of the possible self-resolution of macular hole and epiretinal membrane is clinically relevant in the treatment of these conditions.

Zusammenfassung

Hintergrund

Beim idiopathischen Makulaforamen und der epimakulären Gliose handelt es sich um Erkrankungen, die in vielen Fällen operativ behandelt werden. In seltenen Fällen kann es jedoch zur Spontanremission kommen.

Methoden

Drei Fälle vitreoretinaler Erkrankungen werden vorgestellt. Der erste Fall behandelt den Spontanverschluss eines idiopathischen Makulaforamens (Stadium III), die anderen beiden Fälle betreffen die spontane Rückbildung einer epiretinalen Membran.

Ergebnisse

Das idiopathische Makulaforamen (Stadium III) schloss sich nach mehr als 6 Jahren ohne Verbesserung der Sehschärfe. Die beiden Fälle einer epiretinalen Membran bildeten sich nach Monaten bzw. Jahren spontan zurück.

Schlussfolgerung

Makulaforamina können sich spontan schließen, und eine epiretinale Gliose kann sich spontan zurückbilden. Die Kenntnis hierüber erscheint klinisch relevant, etwa bei der Indikationsstellung zu einer operativen Therapie.

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Acknowledgements

Many thanks to Dr. Aaron Winter, Department of Ophthalmology, Dalhousie University Halifax, Canada, for checking the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Augenklinik Herzog Carl Theodor, Nymphenburger Straße 43, 80335, Munich, Germany

    Gregor Kastl

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  1. Gregor Kastl
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Correspondence to Gregor Kastl.

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G. Kastl declares that he has no competing interests.

Ethical standards

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Kastl, G. Spontaneous self-resolution of vitreomacular diseases: a three-case report. Spektrum Augenheilkd. 33, 128–131 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00717-018-0405-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00717-018-0405-x

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