What is it?
With age, the vitreous jelly shrinks and peels away from the retina. Sometimes it tugs on the very centre (the fovea) as it separates, and tears a tiny round hole. People notice that letters go missing or lines look pinched in the middle when reading with that eye.
Holes are graded on OCT from stage 1 to 4. Small, recent holes have the best chance of closing and of good vision returning, so surgery within a few weeks to months of the symptoms gives the best results.
Symptoms
- A blurred or missing patch in the centre of vision in one eye
- Straight lines (door frames, text) look bent or pinched
- Difficulty reading or threading a needle with one eye
- Often discovered when the other eye is covered
Risk factors and causes
- Age over 60, more common in women
- High myopia
- Eye injury
- After retinal detachment or long-standing macular swelling
Book a retina check within a few weeks if one eye shows a blank or bent patch in the middle. Try the Amsler grid test on this site to check each eye.
Call +91 98306 66650How it is diagnosed
- OCT scan: confirms the hole, its size and stage
- Dilated retina examination
Treatment options
Vitrectomy with ILM peel and gas
The jelly is removed, the thin inner membrane around the hole (ILM) is peeled to release tension, and the eye is filled with gas that presses the hole closed.
Inverted ILM flap
For large or long-standing holes, a flap of ILM is folded over the hole to help it close.
Observation
Very early (stage 1) holes sometimes close on their own and are watched with OCT.
What happens, step by step
- Surgery
Day-care under local anaesthesia, about 45 to 60 minutes.
- Positioning
Face-down or a set head position for 3 to 7 days, so the bubble presses on the hole.
- Follow-up
OCT at 2 to 4 weeks shows whether the hole has closed.
Recovery timeline
- Weeks 1 to 6
Vision is blurred through the gas bubble. No air travel until it has gone.
- Months 3 to 12
Reading vision keeps improving slowly for up to a year.
Macular hole surgery cost in Kolkata
Macular hole surgery (vitrectomy, ILM peel and gas) typically costs ₹40,000 to ₹90,000 per eye in Kolkata. At Spectra, vitrectomy starts from ₹22,000–25,000; dyes, gas and a combined cataract operation are listed separately in your estimate.
| Treatment / test | At Spectra | Typical Kolkata range |
|---|---|---|
| Macular hole surgery (vitrectomy + ILM peel + gas)per eye | Written estimate | ₹40,000 – ₹90,000 |
| Vitrectomyper eye | from ₹22,000 – ₹25,000 | ₹40,000 – ₹1,20,000 |
| OCT scan (retina / macula)per scan | ₹1,000 | ₹1,000 – ₹2,500 |
| Retina specialist consultationper visit | ₹500 | ₹500 – ₹1,500 |
Spectra prices are those published by Spectra Eye Hospital. Kolkata ranges are indicative 2026 ranges across private eye hospitals in the city. Your final cost depends on the eye, the medicine, and the gas, oil or lens used, and is given to you in writing before any procedure.
Cashless and government schemes
Retina specialists for macular hole surgery
Dr. Subhajit Das
MBBS, DO, MS (Ophthalmology), FICO, FMRF
25+ years in medical and surgical retina, 7,500+ retinal procedures, vitreo-retina fellowship at Sankara Nethralaya (FMRF), ZEISS trained.
- Retinal detachment surgery
- Vitrectomy
- Scleral buckle
- Anti-VEGF injections
Dr. Aniruddha Maiti
MBBS, DO, DNB, FVRS, FICO, MRCS (Edinburgh), FACS
10,000+ vitreo-retinal operations since 2008, former Head of Retina at Susrut Eye Foundation, ASRS Honor Award recipient.
- Macular hole & ERM surgery
- Complex retinal detachment
- Diabetic vitrectomy
- Anti-VEGF & Ozurdex
Frequently asked questions
What is the cost of macular hole surgery in Kolkata?
Typically ₹40,000 to ₹90,000 per eye. Spectra's vitrectomy starts from ₹22,000–25,000, and the written estimate includes the dye, gas and any combined cataract surgery.
What is the success rate?
About 90 percent of macular holes close after one operation. Vision improves in most eyes, best when the hole is small and recent.
Do I really have to keep my face down?
Usually for 3 to 7 days, for most of the day. It is the most important thing you can do to help the hole close. Your surgeon may allow a less strict position for smaller holes.
Can a macular hole heal without surgery?
Very early holes occasionally close on their own. Full-thickness holes almost never do and need surgery.
Related
Written by the retina team at Spectra Eye Hospital. Last updated 22 October 2026. This page explains common situations and is not a substitute for an eye examination.