Non-vitrectomizing vitreous surgery and adjuvant intravitreal tissue plasminogen activator for non-recent massive...

Massive premacular hemorrhage can cause sudden visual loss. We sought to evaluate the efficacy, safety and visual outcome of nonvitrectomizing vitreous surgery with intravitreal tissue plasminogen activator (t-pa) for long-lasting thick premacular hemorrhage. This retrospective, interventional study examined three consecutive eyes of three patients who received nonvitrectomizing vitreous surgery with intravitreal t-pa for the treatment of non-recent massive premacular hemorrhage. Detailed ophthalmoscopic examinations were performed pre- and postoperatively to evaluate the visual outcome, the resolution of premacular hemorrhage and the changes in lenticular opacity.In all three eyes, the premacular hemorrhage cleared after the procedure. Final best-corrected visual acuities improved from 6/30 to 6/10 in patient 1, 2/60 to 6/4 in patient 2, and 3/60 to 6/6 in patient 3. Operated and fellow eyes did not differ in terms of nuclear sclerosis. No complications from the procedure were noted.In these selected cases, nonvitrectomizing vitreous surgery with intravitreal t-pa was an effective and safe alternative treatment for non-recent massive premacular hemorrhage.