[Clinical and progressive features of macular hemorrhage secondary to retinal artery macroaneurysms].
BACKGROUND
Retinal arterial macroaneurysm (RAM) is an acquired vascular retinal abnormality that has developed from a retinal arterial branch located in the macular area. It is responsible for decreased visual acuity when complications such as bleeding or retinal exudation occur. A ruptured RAM leads to severe premacular, submacular, or vitreous hemorrhage. The progression can be spontaneously favorable depending on the severity and the location of the hemorrhage. A poor visual prognosis is usually reported in subretinal hemorrhage. We reported the observation of four patients with macular hemorrhage secondary to ruptured RAM.


METHODS
Four patients--two males and two females, aged from 39 to 65 years, presented with sudden unilateral decreased visual acuity. An ophthalmologic exam with visual acuity measurement, anterior segment exam, ocular tonometry, and funduscopy was performed, completed with fluorescein retinal angiography. A Nd:Yag laser hyaloidotomy was done in two cases of premacular hemorrhage 1 week after its occurrence. Submacular hemorrhages were only observed using visual acuity measurement and ophthalmoscopic examination. The follow-up is 3-4 months.


RESULTS
Initial visual acuity varied from light perception to 2/10. The fundus examination showed a macular hemorrhage: subretinal in one case, preretinal in two cases, and in the last case the hemorrhage was both preretinal and subretinal. The diagnosis of MAR was confirmed by fluorescein angiography, which showed a hyperfluorescent arterial dilatation temporal to the macula. In the cases of submacular hemorrhage, the hemorrhage reduced spontaneously after simple monitoring. Final visual acuity was 4/10 and 5/10. For premacular subhyaloid hemorrhage treated with laser Nd:Yag drainage, the final visual acuity was 5/10 and 7/10.


CONCLUSIONS
Visual prognosis in premacular hemorrhage is improved by Nd:Yag laser treatment. Subretinal hemorrhage can have a spontaneous favorable outcome. Surgery should not be systematic. Comparative studies are necessary to apply indications.
Zghal-Mokni
I
I
Institut Hedi Raies d'Ophtalmologie, Tunis, Tunisia. imen.zghal@rns.tn
Nacef
L
L
Yazidi
B
B
Malek
I
I
Bouguila
H
H
Ayed
S
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000783:Aneurysm / Q000150:complications*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005130:Eye Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006801:Humans; D008027:Light; D008266:Macula Lutea; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012161:Retinal Artery; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D014792:Visual Acuity; D014796:Visual Perception