Vitrectomy for the treatment of submacular hemorrhages from macular degeneration: a comparison of submacular hemorrhage/membrane removal and submacular tissue plasminogen activator-assisted pneumatic displacement.

PURPOSE To evaluate two techniques for treatment of large submacular hemorrhages resulting from choroidal neovascularization associated with age-related macular degeneration. METHODS Retrospective consecutive case series of 42 eyes of 42 patients who presented with submacular hemorrhages of at least 12 disc areas associated with visual loss of 3 months or less duration. One of two treatments was performed: (1) vitrectomy with removal of the submacular hemorrhage/neovascular membrane complex using subretinal forceps (SRH group), or (2) vitrectomy with injection of subretinal tissue plasminogen activator (TPA) followed by air-fluid exchange to achieve pneumatic displacement of the hemorrhage (TPA group). RESULTS The mean visual acuity in the SRH group improved from 20/1000 -1 to 20/640 -2 at 3 months and 20/640 at 1 year and at the final examination at a mean of 2.92 years (P = .048). The mean visual acuity in the TPA group remained stable initially with a visual acuity of 20/500 preoperatively and 20/640 +2 at 3 months. The visual acuity in the TPA group deteriorated to 20/1000 -2 at 1 year and 20/1000 +2 at the final examination at a mean of 2.3 years (P = .031). Visual acuity improved by at least .3 logMAR units (3 lines) in 44% of the SRH group at 3 months and in 48% at 1 year and at the final examination compared with 20% of the TPA group at 3 months and 13% at 1 year and at the final examination (P = .042 comparing SRH and TPA groups at 1 year and final examination). CONCLUSIONS Vitrectomy with removal of the subretinal neovascular membrane/hemorrhage complex resulted in better visual results than displacement of the subretinal hemorrhage primarily due to continuing declines in the TPA group.