Original Paper

Pneumatic Displacement of Submacular Hemorrhage due to Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Yonina Ron, Rita Ehrlich, Ruth Axer-Siegel, Irit Rosenblatt, Dov Weinberger

Department of Ophthalmology, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Campus, Petah Tiqva, and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel

Address of Corresponding Author

Ophthalmologica 2007;221:57-61 (DOI: 10.1159/000096524)

  Key Words

• Age-related macular degeneration
• Pneumatic displacement
• Submacular hemorrhage

  Abstract

Purpose: Subretinal hemorrhage is one of the most serious complications of exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Treatment with vitreous surgery with or without plasminogen activator, fluid-gas exchange, or perfluorocarbon yields only a small improvement in visual acuity. Patients and Methods: The files of 24 patients with submacular hemorrhage secondary to AMD who were treated by injection of perfluoropropane gas (C₃F₈) (11 patients) or sulfur hexafluoride (SF₆) (13 patients) were reviewed for visual acuity before and after the procedure and time of treatment from onset of symptoms. Results: For the whole sample, pneumatic displacement led to a statistically significant improvement in mean visual acuity (p = 0.015). A significant difference between pre- and postoperative visual acuity was found for the patients treated with SF₆ (p = 0.034), but not for the patients treated with C₃F₈ (p = 0.245). Conclusion: The use of gas injection to displace submacular hemorrhage can significantly improve visual acuity.

Copyright © 2007 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

Y. Ron, MD
Department of Ophthalmology, Rabin Medical Center
Beilinson Campus
Petah Tiqva 49100 (Israel)
Tel. +972 3 937 6101, Fax +972 3 971 9084, E-Mail yoninadi@netvision.net.il

  Article Information

Received: January 19, 2006
Accepted after revision: August 4, 2006
Number of Print Pages : 5
Number of Figures : 0, Number of Tables : 2, Number of References : 26