Which statement best defines a retinal hole?

Which statement best defines a retinal hole?

• A. Break in the retina caused by trauma, aging, and/or vitreoretinal traction
• B. Fluid accumulation under the retina
• C. Inflammation of the retina
• D. Detachment of the retina from the choroid

Answer: (A)

A retinal hole is a break in the neurosensory retina, typically a small, full-thickness defect in the peripheral retina caused by aging-related degeneration and/or vitreoretinal traction from a posterior vitreous detachment or trauma. This break creates a route for vitreous fluid to pass into the subretinal space, which can lead to a rhegmatogenous retinal detachment if not addressed. The other descriptions point to different conditions: fluid under the retina without a true break describes subretinal fluid causing detachment, inflammation of the retina is retinitis, and detachment of the retina from the choroid is a retinal detachment—none define a hole.

A retinal hole is a break in the neurosensory retina, typically a small, full-thickness defect in the peripheral retina caused by aging-related degeneration and/or vitreoretinal traction from a posterior vitreous detachment or trauma. This break creates a route for vitreous fluid to pass into the subretinal space, which can lead to a rhegmatogenous retinal detachment if not addressed. The other descriptions point to different conditions: fluid under the retina without a true break describes subretinal fluid causing detachment, inflammation of the retina is retinitis, and detachment of the retina from the choroid is a retinal detachment—none define a hole.