Subretinal surgery for choroidal neovascularization in patients with high myopia.

Abstract

DEGENERATIVE myopia is an ocular disease characterized by excessive axial length, abnormal visual function, and several changes in the ocular tissues.^1-4 The major complication leading to decreased central vision in these eyes is choroidal neovascularization (CNV).^5-8 Treatment of myopic CNV has been controversial. It is still uncertain whether laser photocoagulation is beneficial in the treatment of CNV associated with high myopia.^9-12 Laser treatment of subfoveal CNV usually results in an absolute scotoma and a permanent, sudden decrease in visual acuity.¹³ Thomas et al¹⁴ described the surgical results in 10 patients with high myopia in 1994. Since then, a few other investigators^15,16 have reported their clinical experience with subfoveal surgery related to degenerative myopia. The visual results did not seem to be satisfactory, although the small number of patients and the short-term follow-up precluded a definitive assessment of the effectiveness or ineffectiveness of the surgery.