Abstract
Purpose: :
To determine whether vitrectomy might reduce the long-term progression of age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
Methods: :
Retrospective case-control series. The charts and photographs were reviewed of subjects with AREDS category 3 AMD who underwent vitrectomy surgery for an epiretinal membrane or macular hole. Subjects were excluded if they had a vitrectomy in both eyes, previous choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in either eye, less than 2 years of follow-up, retinal detachment, diabetic retinopathy, angioid streaks, high myopia, vascular occlusions, or extensive macular scarring. The fellow, non-vitrectomized eye was used as a case-control. Three vitreoretinal specialists evaluated fundus photographs of all eyes in a masked fashion. Primary endpoints for progression included onset or enlargement of geographic atrophy and development of choroidal neovascularization.
Results: :
Twenty-two patients who met the entry criteria were included. The average follow up interval was 5.6 years with a range of 2-15 years. CNV developed four control eyes and in two vitrectomy eyes. There was no significant difference in the onset or enlargement of geographic atrophy between the groups of eyes.
Conclusions: :
Our results suggest that vitrectomy does not alter the progression of geographic atrophy in AMD. Additional subjects are needed to determine whether vitrectomy might reduce the risk of CNV.
Keywords: age-related macular degeneration • choroid: neovascularization • vitreous