Fig. 6.

Schematic representation of macular hole formation in fovea-off rhegmatogenous retinal detachment after repair. (A) Before posterior vitreous detachment, the glial cone is intact and supports the structure of the fovea. (B) The glial cone is removed during posterior vitreous detachment, and the fovea is compromised. (C) Fovea-off rhegmatogenous retinal detachment induces outer retinal ischemia due to deprivation of diffusion from choroidal circulation. The external limit ing membrane provides temporary stability for the separated photoreceptors. (D) Finally, despite reattachment of the retina, degeneration of photoreceptors continues, resulting from the absorption of subretinal fluid and phagocytosis of the degenerated photoreceptors to accelerate development of a full-thickness macular hole.