A macular hole that extends through the full thickness of the macula is best described as?

A macular hole that extends through the full thickness of the macula is best described as?

• A. Lamellar hole
• B. Full-thickness macular hole
• C. Epiretinal membrane
• D. Retinal detachment

Answer: (B)

All retinal layers at the fovea are disrupted, which defines a full-thickness macular hole. This means the defect spans from the inner limiting membrane down through the outer retinal layers, creating a true cross-sectional hole in the macula. A lamellar hole, by contrast, involves only part of the retinal thickness and leaves some layers intact, so it’s partial thickness. An epiretinal membrane sits on the surface of the retina and causes distortion without creating a full-thickness defect. Retinal detachment involves separation of the neurosensory retina from the underlying pigment epithelium, not a hole confined to the macula.

All retinal layers at the fovea are disrupted, which defines a full-thickness macular hole. This means the defect spans from the inner limiting membrane down through the outer retinal layers, creating a true cross-sectional hole in the macula. A lamellar hole, by contrast, involves only part of the retinal thickness and leaves some layers intact, so it’s partial thickness. An epiretinal membrane sits on the surface of the retina and causes distortion without creating a full-thickness defect. Retinal detachment involves separation of the neurosensory retina from the underlying pigment epithelium, not a hole confined to the macula.