Surgical excision of subfoveal neovascular membranes in age-related macular degeneration

Am J Ophthalmol. 1992 Mar 15;113(3):257-62. doi: 10.1016/s0002-9394(14)71576-4.

Abstract

We studied the results of surgical excision of ten consecutive subfoveal choroidal neovascular membranes in ten patients with age-related macular degeneration. The criteria for surgical eligibility included the following: (1) a clearly identifiable subfoveal membrane occupying the entire foveal avascular zone, (2) a visual acuity of 20/200 or worse, (3) minimal subretinal hemorrhage, and (4) an associated exudative macular detachment. Six of the ten patients showed visual improvement at one-month and three-month follow-up visits and seven showed visual improvement by the six-month examination. All ten maculae remained attached without recurrence of subfoveal neovascular membranes throughout the follow-up period. These results suggested that surgical excision is a viable alternative to laser photocoagulation in patients with subfoveal neovascularization in age-related macular degeneration.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Aging
  • Cell Membrane
  • Choroid / blood supply
  • Choroid / surgery*
  • Female
  • Fluorescein Angiography
  • Fundus Oculi
  • Humans
  • Macular Degeneration / complications
  • Macular Degeneration / surgery*
  • Male
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / complications
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / surgery*
  • Postoperative Complications
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Visual Acuity
  • Vitrectomy