Natural course of submacular hemorrhage

Age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) is the most prevalent cause of blindness in the elderly population. This study retrospectively evaluated the natural course of submacular hemorrhage related to ARMD.We reviewed the records of patients with submacular hemorrhage and foveal avascular zone involvement at the Veterans General Hospital-Taipei from 1981 to 1996. Data were collected from color fundus pictures, fluorescence angiographic films and visual acuity changes.Data from a total of 86 eyes with age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) and 37 non-ARMD eyes were collected. Analysis of data from the ARMD group revealed 10.5% visual acuity improvement six months after presentation and a final mean acuity of 0.069. Analysis of data from the non-ARMD group revealed 29.7% visual acuity improvement and a final mean acuity of 0.388.In this study, patients with submacular hemorrhage had spontaneous visual improvement even without surgery, especially those without subretinal neovascularization.