[Evaluating the results of surgery of choroidal neovessels]

Subfoveal choroidal neovascularization has usually a poor visual prognosis. Submacular surgery has been advocated as an alternative treatment. Visual results of this recent surgical technique is under current clinical evaluation.

We retrospectively reviewed the charts of 16 eyes from 15 patients who underwent submacular surgery through a small retinotomy. Mean follow-up was 8 months (range from 5 to 88 weeks): group 1: submacular hemorrhages caused by age-related macular degeneration, 8 eyes; group 2: advanced subfoveal choroidal neovascularization in age-related macular degeneration, 3 eyes; group 3: young onset subfoveal choroidal neovascularization, 5 eyes.

Group 1: mean preoperative visual acuity was 0.024. Postoperative visual acuity increased for 5 eyes (63%) and decreased for 3 eyes (37%) (mean follow-up: 33 weeks). Two eyes had recurrent neovascularization. Group 2: mean preoperative visual acuity was 0.083. Postoperative visual acuity decreased for both eyes (mean follow-up: 58 weeks). Two eyes had recurrent neovascularization. Group 3: mean preoperative visual acuity was 0.082. Postoperative visual acuity increased for both eyes (mean follow-up: 26 weeks). Two eyes had recurrent neovascularization. In both groups, recurrent neovascularization was managed by laser photocoagulation.

Surgery of subfoveal choroidal neovascular membranes may stabilize or improve visual acuity in young patients. In subfoveal choroidal neovascularization due to age-related macular degeneration. this technique does not provide currently measurable visual improvement except in cases complicated by submacular hemorrhage. Results of future trials comparing surgery with spontaneous evolution or laser photocoagulation are necessary.