Nd:YAG laser photodisruption for preretinal hemorrhage due to retinal macroaneurysm.

PURPOSE: To document the clinical course of Nd:YAG laser photodisruption for eyes with preretinal hemorrhage following rupture of a retinal macroaneurysm.
METHODS: We reviewed six eyes of five patients with preretinal hemorrhage due to retinal macroaneurysm that received Nd:YAG laser photodisruption. Nd:YAG laser created a focal opening in the anterior surface of the preretinal hemorrhage, permitting the blood to enter the vitreous cavity where it would be absorbed more rapidly.
RESULTS: Three eyes showed both subhyaloid hemorrhage, which was resorbed without treatment within 2 months, and hemorrhagic detachment of the internal limiting membrane (ILM), which required Nd:YAG laser photodisruption. All eyes showed disappearance of the preretinal hemorrhage and improvement of vision within 1 week of Nd:YAG laser photodisruption. Visual recovery was less prominent in eyes associated with subretinal macular hemorrhage.
CONCLUSION: Preretinal hemorrhage due to a ruptured retinal macroaneurysm could be dispersed into the vitreous cavity with Nd:YAG laser photodisruption. It should be considered in the decision of Nd:YAG laser photodisruption that the visual increment may be limited in eyes that also have subretinal hemorrhage in the macula and that the hemorrhage beneath the ILM tends to remain longer than the subhyaloid hemorrhage.