Macular holes can affect both eyes and are most common in women and the elderly. The macula is the part of the retina responsible for acute central vision, the vision one uses for reading, watching television, and recognizing faces. A macular hole is a small round opening in the macula. The hole causes a blind spot or blurred area directly in the center of your vision.
Fortunately, macular holes can be repaired with careful microsurgical techniques, macular holes are repaired routinely with excellent improvement in vision.
Vitrectomy surgery, the only treatment for a macular hole, removes the vitreous gel and scar tissue pulling on the macula and keeping the hole open. With treatment, most macular holes shrink and some of the lost central vision slowly returns. The amount of visual improvement typically depends on the length of time the hole was present. Some people with normal vision in the other eye may not want surgery, since vitrectomy surgery cannot completely restore vision.