Idiopathic sub-retinal neovascular membranes in the macula (hemorrhagic macular choroidopathy of young adults). Clinical report and effectiveness of laser treatment.

Twenty-six patients with idiopathic sub-retinal neovascular membranes (INVMs) located within the posterior pole were examined. Clinical and fluorescein angiographic features of these patients are described. Follow-up ranged from 2 to 96 months (mean 16.5 months). Laser treatment was performed according to the location of the neovascular membrane: 7 out of 9 eyes (77%) increased their final visual acuity or stabilized after Argon blue-green laser photocoagulation (INVMs further than 200 microns from the center of the fovea). Krypton red light laser treatment was performed in 13 eyes with juxta-foveal and sub-foveal INVMs: following treatment 10 eyes (77%) improved by 2 or more Snellen lines or maintained their pre-treatment visual acuity. Because of the fact that the Krypton laser was not yet available, 5 patients were not treated: all of them had sub-foveal (3) or juxta-foveal INVMs (2). The natural history of 4 cases (80%) showed an increase in the final visual acuity in 3 eyes and a steady state in one eye. Pathogenesis and treatment outcome of the disease are finally discussed.