Surgical removal of an extrafoveal fibrotic choroidal neovascular membrane with foveal serous detachment in age-related macular degeneration.

Background: Visual recovery after submacular surgery for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) has been very limited.
Methods: A patient with an extrafoveal fibrotic choroidal neovascular membrane from AMD had an overlying serous foveal detachment with the fibrotic tissue elevating the foveal retina. Photocoagulation of the neovascular membrane was not recommended because of its nonpigmented, fibrotic nature. The membrane was surgically excised.
Results: Preoperative and postoperative visual acuity and central 30 degrees visual fields were followed. Visual acuity improved from 20/200 to 20/25, and a preoperative central scotoma resolved completely 18 months after surgical excision of the extrafoveal fibrotic neovascular membrane. There were no intraoperative or postoperative complications.
Conclusion: This type of patient may represent a distinct subset of patients with AMD amenable to subretinal surgery who could potentially have good recovery of vision.