[Subretinal lavage in fresh hemorrhage in macular degeneration]

Three eyes with acute severe subretinal hemorrhages due to age-related macular degeneration were operated on by vitrectomy, retinotomy and subretinal lavage. It was possible to improve the visual acuity (VA) in case 1 from 20/500 preoperatively to 20/200 postoperatively; VA stayed the same for 16 months. In case 2 the VA was hand movements preoperatively, and postoperatively 20/200; after 18 months it was still 20/300. In case 3 VA was 20/400 preoperatively and 20/100 postoperatively; after 15 months it was 20/700. Even if this procedure cannot be recommended as routine, it can be considered in selected cases of subretinal hemorrhages no older than 1 week.