Surgical removal of subfoveal choroidal neovascularisation in highly myopic patients

Aim-To analyse the visual results obtained in the treatment of subretinal c horoidal neovascularisation (CNV) in patients with high myopia by vitrectom y and extraction of the neovascular membrane. Methods-22 eyes of 22 patients with high myopia (> -6 dioptres and/or axial length > 26 mm.) with subfoveal CNV treated by extraction of the CNV were analysed retrospectively. The patients' mean age was 60.27 (SD 16.41) years (range 32-83 years). The mean follow up was 29.3 (9.9) months (range 12-42 months). Results-Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) preoperatively was 0.09 (0.07) (range 0.01-0.3). After treatment BCVA was 0.12 (0.10) (range 0.01-0.4), a difference without statistical significance (p=0.03, Student's t test paire d data). In four cases the CNV recurred, in three cases cataract developed that required extraction, and in one case retinal detachment occurred in th e early postoperative period. Topical treatment was necessary in two cases to lower the intraocular pressure. Conclusions-The treatment of subfoveal CNV in highly myopic patients by sur gical removal by vitrectomy does not achieve any significant improvement of the BCVA.