Surgical removal of peripapillary choroidal neovascularization associated with age-related macular degeneration.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the results of surgical treatment of peripapillary choroidal neovascularization in age-related macular degeneration as an option to both laser photocoagulation and photodynamic therapy.


METHODS
Retrospective review of patients with peripapillary choroidal neovascularization secondary to age-related macular degeneration who were not eligible for or refused laser photocoagulation. Patients without the diagnosis of age-related macular degeneration and those who had extension of their neovascularization subfoveally were excluded from the review.


RESULTS
Eleven patients total were identified who met the specified inclusion criteria. The male to female ratio was 4:7, with an age range of 63 to 94 years (mean = 78 years). The mean area of involved retina temporal to the optic disc was 5 clock hours, with the distance of the temporal edge of the lesion from the fovea ranging from 100 to 2,000 microm. The mean duration of follow-up was 23 months, with 27% (3 of 11) experiencing recurrent choroidal neovascularization. The preoperative and postoperative visual acuity ranges were both 20/25 to counting fingers. Sixty-four percent (7 of 11) of patients had stable or improved visual acuity postoperatively, with a mean visual acuity change of 1 line visual improvement.


CONCLUSIONS
In cases where photodynamic therapy and laser photocoagulation are not indicated, the surgical treatment of peripapillary choroidal neovascularization secondary to age-related macular degeneration may prove beneficial.
Blinder
Kevin J
KJ
Barnes Retina Institute, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri, USA.
Shah
Gaurav K
GK
Thomas
Matthew A
MA
Holekamp
Nancy M
NM
Joseph
Daniel P
DP
Grand
M Gilbert
MG
Sharma
Sanjay
S
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D006801:Humans; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013508:Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures; D009898:Optic Disk; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014792:Visual Acuity