Correlates of good vision in eyes with subfoveal scars from neovascular age-related macular degeneration

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To compare subfoveal disciform scars with good and poor vision in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective case-control study. Twenty-two eyes of 21 consecutively treated patients with nAMD with subfoveal disciform scar and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of 20/63 or better at the final visit were included. Twenty-one eyes of 21 matched patients with disciform scar and final BCVA less than 20/63 served as controls. RESULTS: Subretinal pigment epithelium scar location was more common in the good vision group than in the poor vision group (P < .001). The mean percent disruption of the ellipsoid and the external limiting membrane layers was significantly greater in poor vision eyes than in good vision eyes from scar formation and throughout follow-up (all P < .01). CONCLUSION: Preserved photoreceptor layer correlated with good vision in patients with nAMD and subfoveal disciform scar.