Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose:To describe the visual and anatomic outcomes of submacular extraction of choroidal neovascular membranes (CNVMs) following ocular photodynamic therapy (OPT). Methods:A retrospective review of patients who underwent submacular extraction of a persistent or enlarging subfoveal CNVM following one or more OPT treatments. Visual acuity, persistence/recurrence of CNVM, and postoperative complications were evaluated. Results:Twenty patients underwent successful extraction of a CNVM. No patients displayed persistent CNVM requiring intervention at the 2 or 4 week follow-up. The average follow-up was 5 months. The average pre-extraction and final post-extraction visual acuity was 20/400. Only one patient had a final post-operative visual acuity ≷ 20/100. Final visual acuity was better than pre-operative acuity in 5/20, unchanged in 9/20, and worse in 6/20. One recurrence was detected at 11 months. Postoperative complications included a vitreous hemorrhage and a retinal tear. Conclusion: With short-term follow-up submacular surgery following OPT appears to offer some chance of visual improvement in selected patients, but stabilization in the majority. Many experience subjective improvement with lessening of scotoma size. Recurrence is rare and one surgery is usually all that is necessary to stabilize vision.
Keywords: 628 vitreoretinal surgery • 346 choroid: neovascularization • 516 photodynamic therapy