Pneumatic displacement of submacular hemorrhage due to age-related macular degeneration

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 (C₃F ₈) (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 SF ₆ (p = 0.034), but not for the patients treated with C ₃F₈ (p = 0.245). Conclusion: The use of gas injection to displace submacular hemorrhage can significantly improve visual acuity.