Preop vision, lesion type determine success of macular relocation for AMD

Some patients with age-related macular degeneration are more likely than others to experience a visual benefit from macular relocation surgery, a recent study in Liverpool, England, showed.

Preoperative visual acuity of 20/120 or worse and predominantly classic or submacular hemorrhage lesion types were significantly associated with visual improvement after macular relocation surgery (MRS) for AMD, according to David Wong and colleagues.

The researchers prospectively evaluated 29 patients with exudative AMD to determine the safety and effectiveness of MRS. All patients underwent MRS, which included phacoemulsification, vitrectomy, 360º retinotomy, excision of choroidal neovascular membrane and macular relocation using an infusion of 5-fluorouracil and low molecular weight heparin to prevent proliferative vitreoretinopathy.

Patients had their refractions measured preoperatively and at 6 months postoperatively. Main outcome measures were visual improvement, final vision of better than 20/400, reading speed and critical print size.

The study is published in the February issue of the British Journal of Ophthalmology.