title: Surgical removal of massive subretinal hemorrhage associated with age-related macular degeneration.
abstract: The authors report on 11 patients with age-related macular degeneration associated with massive subretinal hemorrhage, who were treated with surgical removal of the hemorrhage and associated fibrosis. Preoperative visual acuity ranged from 20/400 to hand motions. Postoperative visual acuity ranged from 20/200 to light perception with a minimum of 3 months of follow-up. Complications included partial or total retinal detachment in four patients (36%) and cataract in four patients (36%). Four of 11 patients showed some improvement in vision (36%). All four of these patients had surgery within 1 week of the onset of severe visual loss. Although surgical removal of large subretinal hemorrhages is technically feasible, visual recovery is limited, even in uncomplicated cases, by macular degenerative changes.
authors.affiliation: Retina Service, Wills Eye Hospital, Philadelphia, PA 19107.
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Vander
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Federman
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Greven
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Slusher
authors.forename: V P
authors.initials: VP
authors.lastname: Gabel
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D002386:Cataract / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005654:Fundus Oculi; D006801:Humans; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011379:Prognosis; D012163:Retinal Detachment / Q000209:etiology; D012166:Retinal Hemorrhage / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D014792:Visual Acuity