Pneumatic displacement of submacular hemorrhage due to age-related macular degeneration.
OBJECTIVE
Subretinal hemorrhage is one of the most serious complications of exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Treatment with vitreous surgery with or without plasminogen activator, fluid-gas exchange, or perfluorocarbon yields only a small improvement in visual acuity.


METHODS
The files of 24 patients with submacular hemorrhage secondary to AMD who were treated by injection of perfluoropropane gas (C(3)F(8)) (11 patients) or sulfur hexafluoride (SF(6)) (13 patients) were reviewed for visual acuity before and after the procedure and time of treatment from onset of symptoms.


RESULTS
For the whole sample, pneumatic displacement led to a statistically significant improvement in mean visual acuity (p = 0.015). A significant difference between pre- and postoperative visual acuity was found for the patients treated with SF(6) (p = 0.034), but not for the patients treated with C(3)F(8) (p = 0.245).


CONCLUSIONS
The use of gas injection to displace submacular hemorrhage can significantly improve visual acuity.
Ron
Yonina
Y
Department of Ophthalmology, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Campus, Petah Tiqva, Israel. yoninadi@netvision.net.il
Ehrlich
Rita
R
Axer-Siegel
Ruth
R
Rosenblatt
Irit
I
Weinberger
Dov
D
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D011312:Pressure; D016684:Prone Position; D012166:Retinal Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D013459:Sulfur Hexafluoride / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013997:Time Factors; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology
D005466:Fluorocarbons; C042852:perflutren; D013459:Sulfur Hexafluoride