COMBINED SUBRETINAL AND SUBRETINAL PIGMENT-EPITHELIUM NEOVASCULAR MEMBRANES IN AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION - A CLINICOPATHOLOGICAL STUDY OF 6 CASES

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Subfoveal neovascular membranes are usuary l ocated either in the subsensory retinal space or below the retinal pig ment epithelium (RPE). This article describes the clinical and histopa thologic features of subfoveal membranes with both subretinal and sub- RPE components (combined membranes). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Six surgica lly excised subfoveal neovascular membranes from six patients were exa mined histopathologically. Preoperative and postoperative clinical inf ormation was obtained from each patient. RESULTS: Clinically, the comb ined membranes had no special characteristic features. The most common fluorescein angiographic finding postoperatively was a window defect of the RPE. Visual acuity improved in three patients and became worse in the other three patients. CONCLUSIONS: All patients with combined s ubfoveal neovascular membranes had age-related macular degeneration. I n this disease, a single subfoveal membrane may extend into both the s ubretinal and the sub-RPE spaces. Patients may benefit from surgical r emoval of the membrane.