RESULTS ASSESSMENT OF CHOROIDAL NEW VESSE LS SURGERY

Background Subfoveal choroidal neovascularization has usually a poor v isual prognosis. Submacular surgery has been advocated as an alternati ve treatment. Visual results of this recent surgical technique is unde r current clinical evaluation. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the charts of 16 eyes from 15 patients who underwent submacular surgery t hrough a small retinotomy. Mean follow-up was 8 months (range from 5 t o 88 weeks): group 1: submacular hemorrhages caused by age-related mac ular degeneration, 8 eyes; group 2: advanced subfoveal choroidal neova scularization in age-related macular degeneration, 3 eyes; group 3: yo ung onset subfoveal choroidal neovascularization, 5 eyes. Results Grou p 1: mean preoperative visual acuity was 0,024. Postoperative visual a cuity increased for 5 eyes (63%) and decreased for 3 eyes (37%) (mean follow-up: 33 weeks). Two eyes had recurrent neovascularization. Group 2: mean preoperative visual acuity was 0.083. Postoperative visual ac uity decreased for both eyes (mean follow-up: 58 weeks). Two eyes had recurrent neovascularization. Group 3: mean preoperative visual acuity was 0,082. Postoperative visual acuity increased for both eyes (mean follow-up: 26 weeks). Two eyes had recurrent neovascularization. In bo th groups, recurrent neovascularization was managed by laser photocoag ulation. Conclusions Surgery of subfoveal choroidal neovascular membra nes may stabilize or improve visual acuity in young patients. In subfo veal choroidal neovascularization due to age-related macular degenerat ion, this technique does not provide currently measurable visual impro vement excepted in cases complicated by submacular hemorrhage. Results of future trials comparing surgery with spontaneous evolution or lase r photocoagulation are necessary.