Surgical removal of subfoveal choroidal neovascularisation in highly myopic patients

Abstract

Aim: To analyse the visual results obtained in the treatment of subretinal choroidal neovascularisation (CNV) in patients with high myopia by vitrectomy and extraction of the neovascular membrane.

Methods: 22 eyes of 22 patients with high myopia (>-6 dioptres and/or axial length >26 mm) with subfoveal CNV treated by extraction of the CNV were analysed retrospectively. The patients' mean age was 60.27 (SD 16.41) years (range 32-83 years). The mean follow up was 29.3 (9.9) months (range 12-42 months).

Results: Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) preoperatively was 0.09 (0.07) (range 0.01-0.3). After treatment BCVA was 0.12 (0.10) (range 0.01-0.4), a difference without statistical significance (p=0.03, Student's t test paired data). In four cases the CNV recurred, in three cases cataract developed that required extraction, and in one case retinal detachment occurred in the early postoperative period. Topical treatment was necessary in two cases to lower the intraocular pressure.

Conclusions: The treatment of subfoveal CNV in highly myopic patients by surgical removal by vitrectomy does not achieve any significant improvement of the BCVA.