Purpose: To report a case of a patient who suffered a full-thickness macular hole because of the accidental utilization of the selective laser trabeculoplasty mode of a dual mode laser.
Method: Case report.
Results: A 69-year-old woman experienced vision loss in her left eye immediately after undergoing attempted neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet capsulotomy using a neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet-selective laser trabeculoplasty laser system. Postinjury visual acuity was 20/25 and 20/800 in the right and left eyes, respectively. Ophthalmic examination and multimodal imaging revealed multiple macular hemorrhages and an irregular full-thickness macular hole. The patient required multiple surgeries including an autologous retinal transplant to achieve hole closure.
Conclusion: Macular hole formation is a devastating consequence of inadvertent use of the selective laser trabeculoplasty mode when performing a neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser capsulotomy with a neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet-selective laser trabeculoplasty laser system. The authors emphasize the importance of ensuring the correct mode is selected for treatment to minimize the risk of retinal damage and permanent vision loss.