Hemorrhagic recurrence of neovascular age-related macular degeneration not predicted by spectral domain optical coherence tomography.

Purpose: To report a case in which a patient with neovascular age-related macular degeneration developed a large submacular hemorrhage 2 days after spectral domain optical coherence tomography imaging, which revealed no intra- or subretinal fluid.

Methods: A noninterventional case report.

Results: A 93-year-old woman with neovascular age-related macular degeneration was seen for a regular follow-up examination 3 years after treatment with verteporfin photodynamic therapy in which lesion quiescence was achieved. Visual acuity was stable at 20/200, and spectral domain optical coherence tomography scans using 2 different instruments revealed no intra- or subretinal fluid. Two days after clinical examination and imaging, the patient presented with a large submacular hemorrhage and 5/400 vision.

Conclusion: Hemorrhagic exudation from choroidal neovascularization in age-related macular degeneration may occur suddenly, even in the absence of fluid detected by spectral domain optical coherence tomography.