Surgical excision of type 2 choroidal neovascularization in age-related macular degeneration.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the visual acuity outcome and the influence of various factors on visual outcome in patients undergoing surgical removal of type 2 choroidal neovascular neovascularization (CNV) caused by age-related macular degeneration (AMD).


METHODS
We studied the records of 92 patients (92 eyes) who were followed for at least 1 year after surgical excision of CNV associated with AMD.


RESULTS
The final visual acuity was 0.4 or better in 21%, 0.1 to 0.3 in 66%, and worse than 0.1 in 13% of the patients. Final visual acuity was improved in 62%, stable in 29%, and worse in 9%. Stepwise regression identified CNV size as a significant factor influencing final visual acuity (R = 0.287, P = 0.0045).


CONCLUSIONS
Surgical excision of CNV for AMD is indicated for patients with subfoveal active type 2 CNV with a visual acuity of 0.3 or worse. To achieve better postoperative visual acuity it is important to operate on AMD patients in the early stage of CNV.
Shimada
Hiroyuki
H
Department of Ophthalmology, Surugadai Hospital of Nihon University, 1-8-13 Surugadai, Kanda, Chioyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-8309, Japan. sshimada@olive.ocn.ne.jp
Fujita
Kyoko
K
Matsumoto
Yoko
Y
Mori
Ryuzaburo
R
Yuzawa
Mitsuko
M
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000145:classification / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D006801:Humans; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013508:Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity