Autologous full-thickness RPE-choroid graft to treat high-risk drusenoid pigment epithelial detachment without CNV.

Objective

To report on the survival of a retinal pigment epithelium (RPE)-choroid graft translocated to treat a patient with drusenoid pigment epithelial detachment (DPED).

Methods

We describe a patient with bilateral high-risk DPED where one eye was treated with RPE-choroid translocation surgery and followed up for more than two years.

Results

The RPE-choroid graft surgery was straightforward and the fully perfused graft was able to support stable vision of 0.5 Snellen acuity for more than two years despite the development of a choroidal neovessel at the edge of the graft. The vision in the fellow eye dropped from 0.5 to 0.2 Snellen in the same period.

Conclusion

RPE-choroid translocation may slow the progression of DPED to atrophy but it can also transform dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD) into neovascular AMD.