Limited inferior macular translocation for the treatment of subfoveal choroidal neovascularization secondary to age-related macular degeneration.

PURPOSE: To review a series of patients with age-related macular degeneration undergoing limited macular translocation for the treatment of subfoveal choroidal neovascularization, to determine short-term visual acuity outcomes, to measure amounts of attainable retinal movement, and to identify prognostic factors. METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted on a consecutive series of patients undergoing inferior limited macular translocation with scleral imbrication for the treatment of subfoveal choroidal neovascularization secondary to age-related macular degeneration. The main outcome measures investigated were distance of macular translocation, visual acuity at 3 and 6 months after surgery, change in visual acuity from baseline, and the development of intraoperative and postoperative complications. Univariate and multivariate analyses of a number of potential prognostic factors were undertaken. RESULTS: Macular translocation was achieved in all 102 eyes (101 patients) included in this study. The range of movement varied from 200 to 2,800 microm with a median movement of 1, 200 microm. Nearly 33% of the study group achieved a visual acuity better than 20/100 at 3 months, and 49% achieved this vision at 6 months. At 3 and 6 months, 37% and 48% of the study group, respectively, experienced 2 or more lines of improvement on visual acuity testing, and by 6 months 16% experienced greater than 6 lines of visual improvement. Good baseline vision, achieving the desired amount of macular translocation, a greater amount of macular translocation, and recurrent choroidal neovascularization at baseline were associated with better visual acuities at 3 and 6 months. Poor preoperative vision and the development of complications were associated with worse vision at 3 and 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: Limited macular translocation is a technically feasible procedure that can lead to significant visual improvement and good visual acuity in some patients presenting with subfoveal choroidal neovascularization associated with age-related macular degeneration. A randomized prospective clinical trial of this surgical technique is warranted.

Limited macular translocation for neovascular maculopathy.

Subfoveal choroidal neovascularization presents one of the most difficult challenges to vision. No treatment option has yet solved the problem of subretinal hemorrhage and fibrovascular scarring causing permanent photoreceptor degeneration and loss. Limited macular translocation provides a surgical approach to this challenge by moving the fovea onto an adjacent area of relatively normal subretinal space and pigment epithelium in a selected group of patients. The choroidal neovascularization, thus, becomes extrafoveal or juxtafoveal and can be treated with focal laser photocoagulation. This article describes the current technique of limited macular translocation and reviews early results. The procedure offers selected patients a chance to retain useful central vision. About 40% of patients at 6 months are able to read and drive (visual acuity >20/100). Complications including retinal detachment, hemorrhage, and macular folds have decreased with experience. Limited macular translocation is a promising approach to neovascular maculopathy, but needs ongoing careful evaluation.