Comprehensive Review of Retinal Pseudo-Holes: Clinical Presentation, Diagnosis, Pathophysiology, and Management

Plain-language summary

Retinal pseudo-holes (RPH) are macular abnormalities that mimic macular holes (MH) but lack full-thickness retinal disruption. This systematic review, based on 35 studies, explores their clinical presentation, diagnosis, pathophysiology, and management. Diagnosis: Differentiating RPH from MH is challenging due to overlapping symptoms such as central scotomas and visual distortion. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) has become the gold standard for diagnosis, surpassing older imaging techniques like fundus photography and fluorescein angiography. OCT provides detailed, non-invasive imaging that helps identify RPH's hallmark feature: a foveal depression without retinal break. Pathophysiology: RPH is primarily caused by mechanical forces exerted on the macula by epiretinal membranes (ERM) and vitreomacular traction (VMT). These forces distort the retina, creating a pseudo-hole. Risk factors include aging, high myopia, trauma, and diabetes. Management: Many RPH cases are managed conservatively with regular monitoring, as the condition often remains stable. Surgical intervention, such as pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) with membrane peeling, is reserved for symptomatic cases with significant visual impairment. Surgery has shown promising outcomes, with most patients experiencing improved visual acuity. Research Needs: Further studies are needed to explore the long-term outcomes of RPH, identify factors predicting progression to MH, and assess the utility of advanced imaging techniques like OCT angiography in improving diagnosis and monitoring. This review underscores the importance of accurate differentiation between RPH and MH to ensure appropriate management and avoid unnecessary treatments.

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