Surgical excision of subfoveal choroidal neovascular membranes.

The possibility for visual improvement after the treatment of subfoveal choroidal neovascular membranes with laser photocoagulation is poor. The surgical excision of these membranes in age-related macular degeneration, the presumed ocular histoplasmosis syndrome, idiopathic neovascularization, and myopia is the focus of current study. This review covers the rationale for considering a surgical approach, the techniques currently used to perform these procedures, and the clinical pathological correlation of the surgically excised specimens. Initial results of this surgery warrant a national randomized clinical trial of its efficacy.