Direction and location of retinotomy for removal of subretinal neovascular membranes.

We describe two cases in which a new retinotomy technique is used to remove subretinal neovascular membranes. The direction and location of the retinotomy are of ultimate importance in prevention of damage to retinal nerve fibers and the corresponding visual field loss. The retinotomy is made with an angled 20-gauge needle in nondiathermized retina. The direction of the retinotomy is parallel to the nerve fiber layer and located over the subretinal neovascular membrane. No laser retinopexy was necessary after removal of the subretinal neovascular membrane.