Complications associated with limited macular translocation

PURPOSE: To report the ocular complications associated with the limited macular translocation procedure. METHODS: Retrospective review of 153 consecutive eyes of 151 patients that had the limited macular translocation procedure for subfoveal choroidal neovascularization between April 1996 and February 1999. The major study variables investigated included the incidence of specific ocular complications and their impact on visual acuity at 3 months after the surgery. In addition, baseline patient characteristics and operative factors were evaluated to determine whether they were significant risk factors for the development of an ocular complication. The existence of a surgical procedure learning process was investigated. RESULTS: One hundred forty-one (92.15%) of 153 eyes achieved at least 3-month follow-up. At least one complication occurred in 53 of 153 eyes (34.6%) and in 51 of these 53 eyes (96.22%) the complications occurred before 3 months of postoperative follow-up. The intraoperative and postoperative complications included retinal detachment (17.4%), retinal breaks (13.4%), macular holes (7.8%), macular fold (4.6%), and intraocular hemorrhage (vitreous, subretinal, or choroidal; 9.2%). Eyes that developed retinal detachment, subretinal hemorrhage, and macular fold had significantly more loss of visual acuity than eyes without each of these complications ( P = .0001, P = .038, and P = .027, respectively). The presence of predominantly classic choroidal neovascularization, the occurrence of an intraoperative retinal break, any intraocular hemorrhage, or macular fold formation were significantly associated with retinal detachment ( P = .021, P = .025, P = .013, and P = .014, respectively). The incidence of any complication, retinal detachment, and hemorrhage significantly decreased during the study period, suggesting a learning process ( P = .03, P = .006, P = .027, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: A variety of ocular complications can occur during or after limited macular translocation, and some are associated with reduced postoperative visual acuity. Improved surgical techniques and experience may significantly reduce the incidence of these complications.