Surgical removal of subfoveal choroidal neovascularization in presumed ocular histoplasmosis: stability of early visual results.

PURPOSE

The authors assess the stability of visual acuity outcomes after the surgical removal of subfoveal choroidal neovascularization in a large series of patients with presumed ocular histoplasmosis syndrome (POHS).

METHODS

A retrospective study of 117 consecutive patients undergoing vitrectomy between February 1990 and December 1994 was performed. All patients underwent the surgical removal of subfoveal choroidal neovascularization due to POHS and had at least 3 months of follow-up. Postoperative Snellen visual acuity was the primary study endpoint.

RESULTS

With a median follow-up of 13 months (range, 3-46 months), 35% of patients had postoperative visual acuity of 20/40 or better, and 40% had improvement of three or more Snellen lines after surgery. In a subset of 54 eyes followed for at least 1 year, 91% showed stable or improved vision between the 3- and 12-month time points, and 85% showed stable or improved vision between 3 months and final visit.

CONCLUSION

Follow-up of a large number of patients appears to confirm initially encouraging results and to suggest stability of beneficial effect after the surgical removal of subfoveal choroidal neovascularization in POHS.