Long-Term Outcome of Eyes with Vitrectomy for Submacular and/or Vitreous Hemorrhage in Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration

PURPOSE: To study long-term clinical outcomes in patients with submacular hemorrhage (SMH) and/or vitreous hemorrhage (VH) associated with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) and the real-world clinical situation of adding anti-VEGF therapy after pars plana vitrectomy (PPV). METHODS: In this retrospective case series, 25 eyes with SMH and/or VH associated with nAMD were treated by PPV and followed up for at least 24 months. When exudative changes were unresolved or recurred after PPV, additional intravitreal anti-VEGF therapy was given. RESULTS: The reasons for performing PPV were SMH (8 eyes) and VH (17 eyes) associated with nAMD. Mean best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of eyes with SMH improved significantly at 6 months (P < 0.01) and 12 months (P < 0.05) after PPV. Mean BCVA of eyes with VH improved at 1, 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months (P < 0.01) and at the final visit (P < 0.05). Post-PPV anti-VEGF therapy was initiated in 6 of 8 (75.0%) eyes with SMH and 7 of 17 (47.1%) eyes with VH. Of the 13 eyes given anti-VEGF therapy after PPV, 11 eyes had anti-VEGF therapy initiated within 10 months after surgery. Dry macula rate after PPV was 50.0% in SMH and 70.6% in VH. CONCLUSIONS: BCVA improved in eyes with SMH at 6 and 12 months after PPV, and the BCVA was maintained until the end of the study. BCVA improved significantly in eyes with VH at all time points after PPV. In eyes undergoing PPV for nAMD, recurrence of exudative changes after 11 months from the initial PPV was rare.