SURGICAL EXCISION OF SUBFOVEAL NEOVASCULAR MEMBRANES

Background Subfoveal choroidal neovascular membranes (CNV) are a cause of significant visual impairment. Laser treatment of such lesions res ults in visual loss, Surgical excision of CNV may allow stabilisation or improvement of vision. A series of results of surgical excision are presented. Methods The records for 43 eyes of 40 consecutive patients undergoing surgical excision of CNV not associated with age-related m acular degeneration (AMD) were reviewed retrospectively. Statistical a nalyses of the relationship between pre-operative factors and past-ope rative visual results were made. improvement or worsening of visual ac uity was defined as a change of more than 2 lines of Snellen acuity. R esults In 79.1% of patients visual acuity eras improved or unchanged f ollowing surgery, and in 20.9% there was a reduction of Snellen acuity . There was no statistically significant association between visual ou tcome and age, gender, duration of visual symptoms, cause of CNV, pres ence of subretinal haemorrhage, elevation of retina by subretinal flui d, prior laser surgery, or the presence of pre-operative or intraopera tive subretinal haemorrhage. There was a possible association between the non-use of gas tamponade and an increased chance of reduced vision , Visual loss was more Likely in those eyes with good preoperative vis ual acuity. Recurrence of CNV was noted in 10 (23%) eyes; repeat surge ry was not associated with a worse visual outcome. Conclusions Surgica l excision of CNV not related to AMD is a promising technique. More me aningful assessment of visual function in these patients will allow re finement of case selection.