In vivo evidence of epiretinal membrane formation secondary to acute macular microhole after posterior vitreous detachment

Abstract

The authors present the case of an idiopathic epiretinal membrane (ERM) secondary to an acute self-repaired macular microhole documented by optical coherence tomography (OCT). A 65-year-old phakic woman presenting with acute onset of light flashes, myodesopsia, and central negative scotoma in the right eye was diagnosed with age-related posterior vitreous detachment. Spectral-domain OCT showed a tiny defect of the outer retina, consistent with the diagnosis of macular microhole, which spontaneously closed after 4 weeks. Six months later, the patient developed a contracting ERM, and her visual acuity significantly worsened. This case represents the first in vivo documentation of retinal pigment epithelium cell migration through a macular microhole, highlighting the importance of OCT in understanding idiopathic ERM pathogenesis.