SUBJECTIVE PATIENT SATISFACTION AFTER PARS-PLANA-VITRECTOMY FOR MACULAR HOLE

97th DOG Annual Meeting 1999

P452
SUBJECTIVE PATIENT SATISFACTION AFTER PARS-PLANA-VITRECTOMY FOR MACULAR HOLE

C. Haritoglou, C. A. Feix, E. M. Messmer, A. Scheider, M. Schaumberger, A. Kampik

Beside visual acuity subjective patient satisfaction was prospectively evaluated after macular hole surgery.

Methods: Before and 12 weeks after successful macular hole surgery 34 patient were interviewed for their subjective satisfaction. Therefore a questionnaire for vitreoretinal diseases was modified. Questions included subjective visual acuity, symptoms, reading and driving ability, restrictions in social activities, difficulties at work and emotional problems. Questions were evaluated using a score system, with a maximum score of 95 points. Statistical analysis was done using the Mann-Whitney-U-Test.

Results: 15 Patients did not complain about metamorphopsias postoperatively, whereas 19 patients still realized distortions on the Amsler-Chart. Both groups experienced a mean increase of visual acuity of 4 lines, mean visual acuity was 20/40 (median). 7 (4 and 3) were not satisfied, reflected by a decrease in score points. Among the remaining 27 patients those without metamorphopsias showed a significantly higher increase in score points compared to the patients with metamorphopsias (p=0,003).

Conclusion: Most patients are subjectively satisfied after macular hole surgery. They appreciate especially the loss of disturbing metamorphopsias to be a postoperative success. This requires the thorough removal of epiretinal membranes and the inner limiting membrane.

University Eye Hospital, LMU, Mathildenstr. 8, D-80336 Munich

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