Clinical features of laser-induced macular holes as imaged by optical coherence tomography (OCT)

The increasing number oflaser applications in military and industrial settings has resulted in a rising number of laser eye injuries. Laser-induced macular holes are one type of injury, usually caused by accidental exposure to radiation from a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser operating at 1 064 nm. Laser-induced macular holes share many features with idiopathic macular holes. Optical coherence tomography was employed in the evaluation oftwo patients with laserinduced macular holes. Tomographic features were compared with those found in patients with idiopathic macular holes. An animal model of laser-induced macular hole was also evaluated in order to elucidate the histologic correlation ofthe OCT findings.