Surgical removal of subretinal neovascular membranes

Since 1991 we have been gaining experience in the surgical removal of submacular subretinal membranes in patients with presumed ocular histoplasmosis syndrome (POHS), idiopathic subretinal neovascularisation, myopia and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Seventeen patients were operated between 1991 and 1993. Significant improvement of vision was achieved in 4 out of 5 patients with POHS, 3 out of 5 with idiopathic neovascularisation, 2 out of 4 with myopia but none of 3 patients with AMD. The results suggest that subretinal neovascularisation can be successfully removed in POHS and in some forms of idiopathic neovascularisation and myopia but probably not in AMD.