BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To report the visual acuity results in a small case series of eyes undergoing membrane peeling for epiretinal membrane presenting with age-related subfoveal choroidal neovascularization. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective chart review of all eyes undergoing vitrectomy with epiretinal membrane peeling after intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor injection treatment for age-related subfoveal choroidal neovascularization presenting between February 2005 and January 2007 to a private vitreoretinal subspecialty practice. RESULTS: Four eyes of four patients observed for 10-23 months (median = 20.5 months) were identified. All eyes presented with an angiographically ill-defined choroidal neovascular membrane and epiretinal membrane by optical coherence tomography. After anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy, visual acuity improved 1 to 5 Snellen lines (median = 2 lines). After vitrectomy, visual acuity further improved 1 to 6 lines (median = 2 lines). Final visual acuity was unchanged in 1 eye and improved in 3 eyes, with an overall improvement of 0 to 7 Snellen lines (median = 3.5 lines) after 5 to 14 months (median = 8 months) of follow-up following the vitrectomy. CONCLUSION: In selected eyes presenting with epiretinal membrane and age-related subfoveal choroidal neovascularization after anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy, pars plana vitrectomy with membrane peeling may offer further improvement in visual acuity.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To report the visual acuity results in a small case series of eyes undergoing membrane peeling for epiretinal membrane presenting with age-related subfoveal choroidal neovascularization. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective chart review of all eyes undergoing vitrectomy with epiretinal membrane peeling after intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor injection treatment for age-related subfoveal choroidal neovascularization presenting between February 2005 and January 2007 to a private vitreoretinal subspecialty practice. RESULTS: Four eyes of four patients observed for 10-23 months (median = 20.5 months) were identified. All eyes presented with an angiographically ill-defined choroidal neovascular membrane and epiretinal membrane by optical coherence tomography. After anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy, visual acuity improved 1 to 5 Snellen lines (median = 2 lines). After vitrectomy, visual acuity further improved 1 to 6 lines (median = 2 lines). Final visual acuity was unchanged in 1 eye and improved in 3 eyes, with an overall improvement of 0 to 7 Snellen lines (median = 3.5 lines) after 5 to 14 months (median = 8 months) of follow-up following the vitrectomy. CONCLUSION: In selected eyes presenting with epiretinal membrane and age-related subfoveal choroidal neovascularization after anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy, pars plana vitrectomy with membrane peeling may offer further improvement in visual acuity.