Aims: To determine whether there is a seasonal variation in the onset of acute, massive submacular haemorrhage associated with age-related macular degeneration. Methods: Sixty eyes of 59 patients diagnosed between April 1998 and March 2005, were studied retrospectively. For each patient, the month and season of onset of the submacular haemorrhage and the mean monthly ambient temperature in Nagoya were analysed. Any history of systemic hypertension was also recorded, and the seasonal variations were also investigated in hypertensive and nonhypertensive groups. Results: The number of cases peaked in winter with a trough in summer, and this seasonal variation was significant (Roger's R = 12.03, p,0.01). The monthly incidence was inversely correlated with the temperature (Spearman's rank correlation coefficient r = 0.89, p,0.01). The seasonal variations were significant in the hypertensive group but not in the non-hypertensive group. Conclusion: The considerable seasonal variations suggests that the mechanism for the haemorrhage is strongly correlated with the systemic blood pressure.

PurposeTo evaluate the long-term results of limited macular translocation (LMT) surgery with radial chorioscleral outfolding in patients with wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and subfoveal choroidal neovascularization (CNV). In addition, to identify the factors associated with the final best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA).MethodsThe medical records of 20 eyes of 20 consecutive patients (65.2±9.8 years) who had undergone LMT for the treatment of wet AMD and were followed for at least 5 years, were reviewed. The surgical outcomes including the BCVA, degree of foveal displacement, and complications were recorded.ResultsThe mean foveal displacement was 1332 ± 393 μm after the LMT. The CNV was removed in 16 eyes and photocoagulated in 4 eyes. The mean preoperative VA was 0.83 ± 0.33 logMAR units which significantly improved to 0.59 ± 0.37 logMAR units at 1 year after the surgery (P = 0.015). This BCVA was maintained at 0.59 ± 0.41 logMAR units on the final examination. The final BCVA was significantly correlated with that at 1 year after the surgery (r = 0.83, P<0.001). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the final BCVA was significantly correlated with the BCVA at 1 year after the surgery (P<0.001), a recurrence of a CNV (P = 0.001), and the age (P = 0.022).ConclusionsLMT improves the BCVA significantly at 1 year, and the improved BCVA lasted for at least 5 years. These results indicate that the impaired function of the sensory retina at the fovea can recover on the new RPE after the displacement for at least 5 years. The ability to maintain good retinal function on the new RPE for a long period is important for future treatments of CNVs such as the transplantation of RPE cells and stem cells.

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