Retinal pigment epithelium (RPE)-choroid graft translocation in the treatment of an RPE tear: preliminary results.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether retinal pigment epithelium (RPE)-choroid translocation would be a suitable treatment for RPE tears, which have a poor prognosis and are encountered more often since the introduction of anti-(vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)) therapy for exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD).


METHODS
Prospective interventional case series of six eyes of six patients with AMD with an RPE tear treated with an RPE-choroid translocation. The RPE tear occurred in a vascularised pigment epithelium detachment in four patients and after treatment in the other two. Preoperative and postoperative evaluation included ETDRS visual acuity (VA) and fixation testing. The follow-up period ranged from 6 months to 2 years.


RESULTS
The mean preoperative VA was 20/160 (range 20/400-20/80). The mean VA at the last examination after surgery was 20/80 (range 1/60-20/50). One of the six patients had a preoperative VA of >/=20/80, and four had a VA of 20/80 or better at their last examination. Foveal fixation on the graft was present in five of the six eyes up to the last examination.


CONCLUSIONS
These preliminary data show that an RPE-choroid translocation may be a treatment option for patients with an RPE tear.
Maaijwee
K
K
The Rotterdam Eye Hospital, Schiedamse Vest 180, 3011 BH Rotterdam, The Netherlands. kmaaijwee@hotmail.com
Joussen
A M
AM
Kirchhof
B
B
van Meurs
J C
JC
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002829:Choroid / Q000637:transplantation*; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D010857:Pigment Epithelium of Eye / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology / Q000637:transplantation*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity; D014821:Vitrectomy