The College has published a new clinical guideline on idiopathic full thickness macular holes, a relatively common and visually disabling condition. The guideline, which was produced by a guideline development group chaired by Professor David Steel, aims to evaluate and summarise the clinical evidence relating to the management of patients with the condition.
Idiopathic full thickness macular holes (iFTMH) can occur as primary or idiopathic and – less commonly – secondary, associated with a range of other ocular conditions including trauma, retinal detachment, and myopia. It is the second most common indication for retinal surgery, with approximately 3,500 surgeries carried out in the UK each year.
The patient pathway from initial presentation to undergoing treatment has changed with the widespread availability of optical coherence tomography (OCT), a quick, painless, non-invasive imaging system that captures a cross-sectional image of the central retina. OCTs are becoming more common in community care, with the large optometry chains investing in the technology. They offer the ability to diagnose and classify holes accurately without the need for experienced fundoscopy, permitting appropriate and more timely referral pathways. These choices are important for everyone from the affected patient to the surgeons, nurses, optometrists, and other allied healthcare professionals involved in the management of people with iFTMH.
You can see the guideline here.