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Surgical removal of submacular choroidal neovascularization: a clinicopathologic study and factors influencing visual
R P Corey1, I U Scott, H W Flynn
1Department of Ophthalmology, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami School of Medicine, Florida 33136, USA.
Background And Objective:
Clinical and histopathologic characteristics of submacular choroidal neovascular membranes (CNV) are investigated and features predictive of postoperative complications or poorer visual outcome following CNV removal are identified.
Materials And Methods:
Records of patients who underwent submacular CNV removal at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute between 1991 and 1998 are reviewed.
Results:
At 6 months postoperatively, vision was stable or improved in 19/26 (73%) eyes, with 15/26 (58%) having 20/200 to 20/400 vision. Postoperative retinal detachment occurred more commonly in age-related macular degeneration eyes (AMD) (P <0.05), and CNV recurrence occurred most frequently in presumed ocular histoplasmosis (POHS) eyes (P <0.05). The one eye with an extrafoveal CNV in-growth site had the largest improvement in vision postoperatively. Choroid in the specimen was associated with worse postoperative vision (P = 0.05).
Conclusion:
Submacular CNV removal achieves visual stabilization at the 20/200 to 20/400 level in most eyes. Potential risk factors for postoperative complications or poorer visual outcome include the underlying disease process, subfoveal in-growth site of CNV, and presence of choroid in the specimen.