To report a case of a full-thickness macular hole after a single intravitreal injection of ranibizumab in a patient with choroidal neovascularization associated with age-related macular degeneration.

A 63-year-old woman presented to our department with gradually decreasing vision in her right eye. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was measured as 0.7 in the right eye and 1.0 in the left eye. Examination of the macula showed a choroidal neovascularization associated with subretinal hemorrhage in the right eye. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) confirmed incomplete posterior vitreous detachment, subretinal hemorrhage and serous elevation. The patient subsequently received an intravitreal ranibizumab injection. After 1 month, the best corrected visual acuity in the right eye was decreased to 0.4, and fundus examination revealed posterior vitreous detachment and a macular hole. The patient underwent pars plana vitrectomy with internal limiting membrane peeling and fluid-air exchange, SF6 gas injection, phacoemulsification and posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation. Three months later, the macular hole had closed completely and best visual acuity was 1.0.

Although the occurrence of a full-thickness macular hole after intravitreal ranibizumab injection is uncommon, physicians should be well acquainted with this complication.