Change in visual function after macular translocation with 360° retinectomy for neovascular age-related macular degeneration

Objective: To measure the change in vision and visual outcomes at 12 months after macular translocation with 360degrees retinectomy (MT360) and silicone oil tamponade in patients with bilateral vision loss resulting from subfoveal choroidal neovascular membranes in age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Design: A prospective, interventional, consecutive, noncomparative case series. Participants: Sixty-four patients with bilateral vision loss resulting from neovascular AMD. Methods: Eligible patients had AMD with subfoveal choroidal neovascularization in the operative eye and a maximum of 6 months of central vision loss. Preoperative and 12-month postoperative evaluations included standardized testing of near and distance acuity and reading speed. Patients underwent MT360 with silicone oil tamponade, followed 2 months later by extraocular muscle surgery and silicone oil removal. Main Outcome Measures: Change in distance acuity, near acuity, and reading speed at 12 months after MT360 compared with those values before surgery. Results: Sixty-one patients were followed up for 12 months. All eyes were translocated successfully. Median distance acuity letter score improved from 62 letters (Snellen equivalent of approximately 20/125) before surgery to 69 letters (approximately 20/80) by 12 months after surgery (P = 0.03). Median near acuity improved from 0.70 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) units (approximately 20/100) before surgery to 0.44 logMAR units (approximately 20/55) at 12 months (P<0.001). Median reading speed improved from 71 words per minute (wpm) before surgery to 105 wpm at 12 months after surgery (P<0.001). At 12 months, distance acuity improved by 1 or more lines in 32 patients (52%). In patients with either preoperative distance or near acuity of 20/80 or better, 74% and 95% of patients, respectively, remained in this range of acuity. In patients with either preoperative distance or near acuity of worse than 20/80, 40% and 48% of patients, respectively, improved to 20/80 or better. Postoperative retinal detachment developed in 5 patients (8%), with the macula involved in 2 patients, and all retinas were reattached successfully. Conclusions: Macular translocation with 360degrees retinectomy with silicone oil tamponade is effective in significantly improving visual function in patients with neovascular AMD, as demonstrated by the improvement in distance and near acuity and reading speed at 12 months after surgery in these patients. Although this is a complex surgical intervention, patients with preoperative visual acuity of 20/80 or better at near or distance are highly likely to retain the 20/80 or better acuity at 12 months after surgery. Macular translocation with 360degrees retinectomy is an effective treatment option for patients with vision loss in their second eye resulting from neovascular AMD. (C) 2004 by the American Academy of Ophthalmology.