Surgery for peripapillar choroidal neovascularization

The therapy of choroidal neovascularizations (CNVs) in wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) developed to an anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy. Peripapilar CNV (PPCNV) represents another manifestation of CNV which may treated additionally by surgical extraction of the membranes. METHODS: In this retrospective study, the morphological and visual outcome after surgery of 9 eyes of 9 patients with PPCNV was evaluated. RESULTS: Surgery was successful in each patient and visual acuity remaind stable or improved in each patient by two or more lines. Recurrence was observed in 6 eyes within three years. DISCUSSION: Hence, surgery may represent an alternative approach in the therapy of PPCNV although only a small number of cases were included. Randomized prospective trials comparing surgical excision of PPCNV with anti-VEGF therapy alone or in combination are needed.