Background: In patients with advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD), massive subretinal hemorrhage may sometimes be the reason for a loss of peripheral vision, leading to a significantly reduced quality of life.
Patients and methods: During the years 1995-2001 we operated five eyes (five consecutive patients) with acute massive subretinal hemorrhage extending into all four quadrants and profoundly reduced vision in the fellow eye due to a Junius-Kuhnt macular scar. Within an interval of 1-2 weeks after the bleeding, pars plana vitrectomy with peripheral retinotomy was performed. After the retina was turned upside down and the partially liquified blood was removed, the underlying subfoveal CNV membrane was removed with a vitrectome. Three phakic eyes required additional cataract surgery and IOL implantation. The retina reattached under PFCL and a silicone oil tamponade applied for 3-6 months.
Results: The removal of the subretinal hemorrhage was without complications. The size of the subretinal membrane was between 4 and 6 PD with partially fibrovascular tissue. After the membrane was removed, a large central pigment epithelium defect made a macular rotation impossible. Visual acuity of hand motion improved from preoperatively 0.05 to postoperatively 1/35 to 0.1 after a follow-up of 3-6 months.
Conclusion: In patients with such an extremely reduced visual acuity and visual field, subretinal surgery with removal of the subretinal blood may achieve sufficient vision for the patients' orientation.