Aim

To report the outcomes of the “inverse drainage Nd:YAG laser membranotomy” technique for the management of pre-macular hemorrhage (PMH), which has its inferior margin near the fovea.

Methods

This retrospective study included eyes with PMH, with its inferior margin located within 0.5 disc-diameter (DD) of the fovea. Laser membranotomy was performed near the superior margin of PMH followed by intravitreal injection of 0.3 mL undiluted sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) gas. The patients were advised to maintain a prone position for three days.

Results

Twenty patients (20 eyes) with a mean age of 46.1 ± 18.6 years were included in the study. The mean duration of symptoms was 6.9 ± 7.0 days. The mean size of PMH was 4.1 ± 1.2DD. The causes of PMH were Valsalva retinopathy (n = 11) and retinal artery macroaneurysm (RAM, n = 9). The mean maximum height of the blood collection, measured by optical coherence tomography (OCT), within 1 disc-diameter from the inferior and superior borders of the PMH was 738.9 ± 232.9μm and 1240.6 ± 338.1μm respectively (p = 0.001). The mean best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) improved from logMAR 1.32 ± 0.44 (Snellen equivalent, 20/418) to logMAR 0.11 ± 0.20 (Snellen equivalent, 20/26) (p = 0.001). Vitrectomy was not required in any case. Persistent pre-macular cavity, macular hole, epiretinal membrane (ERM), intra-ocular pressure spike, or rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) was not noted in any patient.

Conclusion

This technique can be safely used to treat eyes with PMH having its inferior margin near the fovea.

Search results

Inverse drainage Nd:YAG membranotomy for pre-macular hemorrhage