Visual function after foveal translocation with scleral shortening in patients with myopic neovascular maculopathy

PURPOSE: To document the visual outcome after successful foveal translocation with intentional retinal detachment and scleral shortening for the treatment of myopic neovascular maculopathy. METHODS: Two severely myopic patients with subfoveal neovascular membranes underwent surgical translocation of the fovea to an area of healthy retinal pigment epithelium by means of scleral shortening and intentional retinal detach ment. In the postoperative period, monocular and binocular visual function were studied. RESULTS: In one patient, best-corrected visual acuity improved from 20/150 to 20/20 postoperatively. In the second patient, acuity initially improved from 20/70 to 20/30. In both patients, the fixation point shifted from the site of the neovascular membrane. Oblique astigmatism developed and was managed with hard contact lenses, Diplopia and subjective torsion occurred transiently. Micropsia occurred in one patient, Peripheral fusion assessed by Worth four-dot testing after resolution of diplopia disclosed suppression in the nondominant eye in both cases. CONCLUSIONS: Foveal translocation with intentional retinal detachment and scleral shortening was useful in improving visual acuity in two patients with myopic neovascular maculopathy. Diplopia and aniseikonia occurred but resolved over time as suppression developed. This technique is promising for patients with myopic neo vascular maculopathy. (C) 1998 by Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.