Systemic steroids for the management of choroidal neovascular membrane with pigment epithelial tear and recalcitrant subretinal fluid

Abstract

A 67-year-old man was diagnosed to have dry age related macular degeneration in the right eye and a choroidalneovascular membrane (CNVM) with a large pigment epithelial detachment in the left eye, confirmed with clinical examination, angiography and optical coherence tomography scans. He received an intravitreal injection of bevacizumab in the right eye and developed a retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) tear 3 weeks later. 3 consecutive ranibizumab injections failed to clear the subretinal fluid (SRF). A course of systemic steroids was administered and this improved the vision. Subsequently, the patient received one more ranibizumab injection and the disease process resolved. The left eye corrected distance visual acuity (LE CDVA) was 20/30 at the final visit (1 year after the last injection). Systemic steroids may be a management option in patients with CNVM and RPE tear with recalcitrant SRF if there is no contraindication to their use.