Macular fold after limited macular translocation treated with scleral shortening release and intravitreal gas

Long-term results after limited macular translocation surgery for wet age-related macular degeneration

Purpose

To evaluate the long-term results of limited macular translocation (LMT) surgery with radial chorioscleral outfolding in patients with wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and subfoveal choroidal neovascularization (CNV). In addition, to identify the factors associated with the final best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA).

Methods

The medical records of 20 eyes of 20 consecutive patients (65.2±9.8 years) who had undergone LMT for the treatment of wet AMD and were followed for at least 5 years, were reviewed. The surgical outcomes including the BCVA, degree of foveal displacement, and complications were recorded.

Results

The mean foveal displacement was 1332 ± 393 μm after the LMT. The CNV was removed in 16 eyes and photocoagulated in 4 eyes. The mean preoperative VA was 0.83 ± 0.33 logMAR units which significantly improved to 0.59 ± 0.37 logMAR units at 1 year after the surgery (P = 0.015). This BCVA was maintained at 0.59 ± 0.41 logMAR units on the final examination. The final BCVA was significantly correlated with that at 1 year after the surgery (r = 0.83, P<0.001). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the final BCVA was significantly correlated with the BCVA at 1 year after the surgery (P<0.001), a recurrence of a CNV (P = 0.001), and the age (P = 0.022).

Conclusions

LMT improves the BCVA significantly at 1 year, and the improved BCVA lasted for at least 5 years. These results indicate that the impaired function of the sensory retina at the fovea can recover on the new RPE after the displacement for at least 5 years. The ability to maintain good retinal function on the new RPE for a long period is important for future treatments of CNVs such as the transplantation of RPE cells and stem cells.

Macular translocation with chorioscleral outfolding: 2-year results

PURPOSE

To evaluate the results of macular translocation with radial chorioscleral outfolding in patients with subfoveal choroidal neovascularization (CNV) and to identify factors associated with decreased postoperative visual acuity.

DESIGN

Retrospective interventional case series.

METHODS

Twenty-seven consecutive patients with surgically treated subfoveal CNV were operated on and followed for more than 2 years. Macular translocation with radial chorioscleral outfolding was performed using titanium clips. Surgical outcomes including visual acuity, foveal displacement, surgically induced astigmatism, and complications were recorded. Factors associated with decreased visual acuity postoperatively were identified by multiple logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

Foveal displacement ranged from 349 to 3391 (median, 1576) microm. Surgically induced astigmatism ranged from 0 to 3.0 (median, 0.5) diopters. Visual acuity after surgery improved in 19 of the 27 patients (70.4%; median, 5 lines), but in 14, final vision ultimately decreased from the best postoperative level. Final visual acuity improved from the preoperative level in 11 patients (40.7%), remained unchanged in seven (25.9%), and decreased in nine (33.3%). In our series, the mean preoperative vision was 20/174, the best postoperative visual acuity was 20/74, and the mean final vision was 20/167. Factors associated with a decrease in postoperative visual acuity included the postoperative enlargement of CNV.

CONCLUSION

Macular translocation with radial chorioscleral outfolding improved or stabilized the vision in 66.7% of patients with subfoveal CNV over the course of more than 2 years. Closing the CNV or preventing its further growth is required to maintain a better postoperative visual acuity.