SURGICAL EXCISION OF SUBFOVEAL CHOROIDAL NEOVASCULAR MEMBRANES

The possibility for visual improvement after the treatment of subfovea l choroidal neovascular membranes with laser photocoagulation is poor. The surgical excision of these membranes in age-related macular degen eration, the presumed ocular histoplasmosis syndrome, idiopathic neova scularization, and myopia is the focus of current study. This review c overs the rationale for considering a surgical approach, the technique s currently used to perform these procedures, and the clinical patholo gical correlation of the surgically excised specimens. Initial results of this surgery warrant a national randomized clinical trial of its e fficacy.