[Minimally invasive therapy of submacular hemorrhage in exsudative age-related macular degeneration].

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this prospective observational study was to analyze the efficacy and safety of a minimally invasive approach in patients with subretinal hemorrhage secondary to exsudative age-related macular degeneration (ARMD).

METHODS

A total of 34 eyes from 33 patients with submacular hemorrhage due to exsudative ARMD were included in the study and 18 of the 33 patients were under anticoagulant medication. Combined subretinal injection of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rTPA) and bevacizumab with subsegment core vitrectomy and gas tamponade with 1.8-2.2 ml pure sulphur hexafluoride gas (SF6) was applied using a single pars plana incision. The follow up period was 1-17 months and median 4.5 months.

RESULTS

This approach achieved a sufficient SF6 gas filling in all cases without the requirement of strict face-down positioning. Postoperatively all patients had subjective improvement of central visual field. Visual acuity increased in 16 out of 33 patients and 12 out of 33 patients remained unchanged. As complications seven tears of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and one recurrent subfoveal hemorrhage were observed, two cases of retinal detachment occurred and required buckling surgery. In 14 out of 33 patients further application of intravitreal anti-VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) was necessary.

CONCLUSION

This minimally invasive approach seems to be a feasible and effective method to displace subretinal hemorrhages with tenable results.