[Surgical removal of submacular choroidal neovascular membranes and the results of follow-up].
OBJECTIVE
To explora the long-term effect of surgical removal of submacular neovascular membranes.


METHODS
After pars plana vitrectomy, a small retinotomy technique was used to extract submacular choroidal neovascular membranes in the seven eyes of seven cases. Before and after surgery, the visual acuity, best corrected visual acuity, fundus and fundus fluorescein angiography were examined in all eyes and long-term follow-up was carried out.


RESULTS
With more than 1 year follow-up, the submacular choroidal neovascular membranes were not noted in six eyes and recurrent in one eye. After surgery, the visual acuity improved differently in six eyes, two eyes of which increased 5 Snellen lines. Only in one eye did the vision decrease with macular organization, and in one eye a secondary epimacular membrane appeared.


CONCLUSIONS
Most of the eyes have their vision improved after the surgical removal of the submacular neovascular membranes. The visual improvement is related to the extent of retinal pigment epithelium and neurosensory retina damaged by the choroidal neovascular membrane scar, and surgical procedure has also some damaging effects on retinal pigment epithelium and neurosensory retina.
Dong
F
F
Department of Ophthalmology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing.
Zhang
C
C
Fei
P
P
D000328:Adult; D002829:Choroid / Q000601:surgery*; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013508:Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D012160:Retina / Q000601:surgery; D014792:Visual Acuity; D014821:Vitrectomy