Pars plana vitrectomy for subfoveal macular hemorrhage and choroidal neovascular membranes.

1. Choroidal neovascular membranes (CNVM), the abnormal ingrowth of blood vessels from the choroid through Bruch's membrane, remain a major cause of treatable visual loss. 2. Laser photocoagulation is effective in destroying CNVM and preserving central vision in many affected patients. However, laser treatment of subfoveal CNVM irreversibly destroys foveal vision. 3. The utility of vitrectomy techniques for removal of subfoveal macular hemorrhage on CNVM remains unknown pending the results of a randomized, controlled prospective study. 4. Laser photocoagulation remains the treatment of choice for extra- and juxtafoveal CNVM caused by age-related macular degeneration (ARMD), ocular histoplasmosis and idiopathic causes, and for selected subfoveal CNVM caused by ARMD.