PURPOSE: To evaluate the visual acuity outcome and the influence of various factors on visual outcome in patients undergoing surgical removal of type 2 choroidal neovascular neovascularization (CNV) caused by age-related macular degeneration (AMD). METHODS: We studied the records of 92 patients (92 eyes) who were followed for at least 1 year after surgical excision of CNV associated with AMD. RESULTS: The final visual acuity was 0.4 or better in 21%, 0.1 to 0.3 in 66%, and worse than 0.1 in 13% of the patients. Final visual acuity was improved in 62%, stable in 29%, and worse in 9%. Stepwise regression identified CNV size as a significant factor influencing final visual acuity (R = 0.287, P = 0.0045). CONCLUSIONS: Surgical excision of CNV for AMD is indicated for patients with subfoveal active type 2 CNV with a visual acuity of 0.3 or worse. To achieve better postoperative visual acuity it is important to operate on AMD patients in the early stage of CNV. (c) Japanese Ophthalmological Society 2005.
PURPOSE: To evaluate the visual acuity outcome and the influence of various factors on visual outcome in patients undergoing surgical removal of type 2 choroidal neovascular neovascularization (CNV) caused by age-related macular degeneration (AMD). METHODS: We studied the records of 92 patients (92 eyes) who were followed for at least 1 year after surgical excision of CNV associated with AMD. RESULTS: The final visual acuity was 0.4 or better in 21%, 0.1 to 0.3 in 66%, and worse than 0.1 in 13% of the patients. Final visual acuity was improved in 62%, stable in 29%, and worse in 9%. Stepwise regression identified CNV size as a significant factor influencing final visual acuity (R = 0.287, P = 0.0045). CONCLUSIONS: Surgical excision of CNV for AMD is indicated for patients with subfoveal active type 2 CNV with a visual acuity of 0.3 or worse. To achieve better postoperative visual acuity it is important to operate on AMDpatients in the early stage of CNV. (c) Japanese Ophthalmological Society 2005.