title: Results of vitrectomy for breakthrough vitreous hemorrhage associated with age-related macular degeneration and polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate the results of vitrectomy in patients with vitreous hemorrhage associated with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV).
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective review was conducted of consecutive cases of patients undergoing pars plana vitrectomy for nonclearing vitreous hemorrhage associated with neovascular AMD or PCV.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-four eyes of 23 patients were included. The mean length of time from the onset of vitreous hemorrhage to operation was 4.3 months. Twelve eyes had AMD, and 12 eyes of 11 patients had PCV. Additional treatments for active choroidal neovascularization or PCV were required in 12 eyes during follow-up. The mean visual acuity improved significantly from a logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution of 2.79 +/- 0.85 before operation to 1.61 +/- 0.98 at 2 months after operation (P < 0.001). Visual acuity was >or=20/200 in 9 eyes (37.5%) at 2 months after operation; 1 eye was in the AMD group, and the other eyes were in the PCV group. Improvement was more frequently observed in the PCV group (P = 0.005).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this series, the functional outcomes of vitrectomy for vitreous hemorrhage associated with AMD were inferior to outcomes of the PCV group. Vitrectomy is beneficial for improving visual function in select cases of breakthrough vitreous hemorrhage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, Pusan National University, Pusan, Korea.
authors.forename: Jae Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Ja Kyun
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Ji Eun
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Boo Sup
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Oum
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D002829:Choroid / Q000098:blood supply*; D015862:Choroid Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016491:Peripheral Vascular Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D012166:Retinal Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology; D014821:Vitrectomy; D014823:Vitreous Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000068258:Bevacizumab