Original Paper

Subretinal Hemorrhages Secondary to Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Psychological and Vision-Related Functional Perspectives
Maneli Mozaffarieh^a, Stefan Sacu^a, Thomas Benesch^b, Andreas Wedrich<sup>c

a</sup>Department of Ophthalmology and
^bInstitute of Medical Statistics, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, and
^cDepartment of Ophthalmology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria

Address of Corresponding Author

Ophthalmologica 2008;222:199-204 (DOI: 10.1159/000126084)

  Key Words

• Psychological distress
• Vision-related functioning
• Subretinal hemorrhage
• Age-related macular degeneration

  Abstract

Purpose: To assess psychological, visual and functional aspects associated with subretinal hemorrhages secondary to age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Method: In this prospective, comparative, longitudinal study, 90 eyes of 90 patients with a subretinal hemorrhage, secondary to AMD, of at least 1 disk diameter were treated with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rTPA) and gas, and compared to 25 eyes of 25 controls. Outcome measures were: (1) visual acuity, (2) self-reported vision-related quality of life (Visual Function 14-item questionnaire) and (3)Hospital Anxiety and Depression (HAD) scores. Visual acuity and questionnaire responses were recorded prior to as well as 2 weeks and 4 months after treatment. Results: Improvements across objective visual acuity and vision-related functional measures, assessed at 2 weeks and 4 months, were significantly higher in patients who had rTPA and gas injections than in controls (p < 0.01). Patients were significantly more distressed at their 2-week follow-up in comparison to controls (HAD scores p < 0.01). Comparisons to controls showed no significant difference in psychological scores at the 4-month follow-up (p > 0.32). Conclusions: Patients with subretinal hemorrhages secondary to AMD are psychologically distressed as a result of acute loss of vision. More attention should be given to strategies that teach patients to cope with acute vision loss and thereby psychological disorder.

Copyright © 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

Andreas Wedrich, MD
Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University of Graz
Auenbruggerplatz 4
AT-8036 Graz (Austria)
Tel. +43 316 385 3817, Fax +43 316 385 3261, E-Mail andreas.wedrich@meduni-graz.at

  Article Information

Received: September 6, 2006
Accepted after revision: May 24, 2007
Published online: May 22, 2008
Number of Print Pages : 6
Number of Figures : 0, Number of Tables : 3, Number of References : 32