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Article
April 1996

Clinicopathologic Correlation of Submacular Membranectomy With Retention of Good Vision in a Patient With Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Author Affiliations

From the Eye Pathology Laboratory, Wilmer Institute and Department of Pathology, The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Md (Drs Rosa and Green); and Retina Consultants Ltd, St Louis, Mo (Dr Thomas).

Arch Ophthalmol. 1996;114(4):480-487. doi:10.1001/archopht.1996.01100130476025
Abstract

We present the clinicopathologic features of the eye of a patient with age-related macular degeneration who underwent submacular membranectomy and had re-tention of good visual acuity for almost 4 years despite recurrent choroidal neovascularization treated with krypton laser photocoagulation and mild expansion of the laser lesion with time. Histopathologic study of the surgically removed membrane from the right eye disclosed a thin fibrovascular membrane lined by retinal pigment epithelium on one surface. Microscopic examination of the right eye obtained post mortem disclosed a 2.75-mm (horizontal) × 2.1-mm (vertical) retinal pigment epithelium defect with overlying photoreceptor cell atrophy centered on the temporal parafoveal area, and a 0.6×0.1-mm subretinal pigment epithelium fibrovascular membrane with an area of retinal pigment epithelial hyperplasia and vascularization from the retina 0.4 mm temporal to the fovea. Basal laminar deposit was present in the region of the fovea and nasal parafoveal area.

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