To investigate the ability to determine the postoperative status of macular hole (MH) in gas-filled eyes using swept source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT).

Ten eyes of 10 patients who underwent vitrectomy, internal limiting membrane peeling and gas tamponade for idiopathic MH were included in this study. The macular area was examined using SS-OCT on postoperative days 1, 2 and 30.

MH status was assessed in 6 eyes (60%) on postoperative day 1 and MH closure was confirmed in 5 of the 6 eyes (83%). MH remained closed in all 5 eyes at 1 month after surgery. Only gas-retinal interface was obtained in 4 eyes (40%) and unclosed MH was found in 1 of the 4 eyes (25%) at 1 month after surgery.

The MH status can be determined using SS-OCT in the early postoperative period even in gas-filled eyes. Confirming early MH closure with SS-OCT can serve as an important guide to significantly shorten the duration of prone positioning while maintaining high closure rates.