Tissue plasminogen activator in the surgical excision of subfoveal choroidal neovascular membranes.

We investigated the use of tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) as an adjunct to the surgical removal of subfoveal choroidal neovascular membranes. t-PA in a concentration of 6 micrograms/0.1 cc dissolved the fibrin rim surrounding recent subfoveal membranes but was less effective on more mature lesions. t-PA may be a useful intraoperative tool to limit the damage to surrounding structures during the surgical excision of recent subfoveal choroidal neovascular membranes with surrounding fibrin rims.