Longterm results in surgical removal of subfoveal choroidal neovascularization in age-related macular degeneration.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to analyse visual outcome, surgical complications and recurrence rates 3 years after removal of subretinal choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD).


METHODS
The study involved a retrospective analysis of 50 eyes of 50 patients who underwent surgical removal of CNV in AMD between February 1996 and June 1998. The minimum follow-up period was 36 months. Improvement or worsening of visual acuity (VA) was defined as a change of more than two lines.


RESULTS
The mean reduction in VA was 2.2 +/- 6.9 lines. Visual acuity improved in 12 eyes, remained stable in 16 eyes and worsened in 22 eyes. Recurrence of CNV occurred in three eyes.


CONCLUSIONS
After surgical excision of age-related subfoveal CNV, VA improved or stabilized in a large group of patients. Considering the development of VA and the low recurrence rate, surgical treatment seems to be beneficial compared to the natural course of CNV over a longterm follow-up of more than 3 years.
Guthoff
Rainer
R
Department of Ophthalmology, Julius Maximilians University, Würzburg, Germany. r.guthoff@mail.uni-wuerzburg.de
Schrader
Wolfgang
W
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005584:Fovea Centralis / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013508:Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity