RETINAL PIGMENT EPITHELIUM-CHOROID GRAFT WITH A PERIPHERAL RETINOTOMY FOR EXUDATIVE AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION: Long-Term Outcome.

Purpose: To investigate the long-term outcome of autologous retinal pigment epithelium -choroid transplantation with a peripheral retinotomy for exudative age-related macular degeneration.

Methods: In a retrospective study, we selected all patients who underwent a retinal pigment epithelium-choroid transplantation from 2007 through 2013. Exclusion criteria were age <60 years, <12 months of follow-up, and retinal pigment epithelium-choroid graft for other diseases than age-related macular degeneration. The main outcome measure was best-corrected visual acuity converted into logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution.

Results: In this study, 81 patients were included with a mean follow-up of 38 months (SD = 19). Median best-corrected visual acuity improved from 1.30 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (20/400 Snellen) to 0.90 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (20/160 Snellen) 1 year after surgery (P < 0.001). A ≥3-line gain was achieved in 43 patients (53%) 1 year postoperatively and 37 patients (46%) preserved their visual gain until last visit. Of 4 patients with an 8-year follow-up, 3 patients had a ≥6-line gain at last visit. Severe complications were submacular hemorrhage (n = 8, 10%), macular hole (n = 6, 7%), and proliferative vitreoretinopathy (n = 3, 4%).

Conclusion: Best-corrected visual acuity improved significantly after retinal pigment epithelium-choroid transplantation in patients with age-related macular degeneration and preservation of visual gain was possible in the long term.