Purpose: To evaluate the long-term results of autologous retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and choroid transplantation (RPE-choroid patch) for exudative and atrophic maculopathies.
Methods: Consecutive chart review of 120 eyes, which underwent RPE-choroid patch, from 2007 to 2017 for RPE atrophy or choroidal neovascular membrane secondary to exudative and hemorrhagic age-related macular degeneration, myopia, angioid streaks, and laser. Eyes were tested with best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), reading ability, optical coherence tomography, fluorescein angiography and indocyanine green angiography, autofluorescence, and microperimetry.
Results: Eighty-eight eyes of 84 patients had complete data, with 2- to 10-year follow-up. Mean age was 71.9 ± 9.06 years. Mean preoperative and postoperative BCVA was 20/320 (1.2 ± 0.2 logMAR) and 20/200 (0.94 ± 0.36 logMAR), respectively (P = 0.009). Reading ability recovered in 43% of cases. Microperimetry showed central fixation. A gain of at least 15 letters was obtained in 40% of eyes. Integrity (P = 0.009) of external limiting membrane and higher preoperative BCVA (P = 0.001) predicted better final BCVA. Complications were retinal detachment (11.4%), macular atrophy (7%), subretinal hemorrhage (4.5%), epiretinal membrane (4.5%), recurrent choroidal neovascular membrane (4.5%), macular hole (3.4%), and cystoid edema (3%).
Conclusion: Autologous RPE-choroid patch achieved long-lasting BCVA improvement and central fixation, in eyes with choroidal neovascular membrane and intact external limiting membrane. Atrophic maculopathies only obtained temporary visual benefit.