Limited macular translocation for atrophic maculopathy.

OBJECTIVES: To report visual improvement following bilateral limited macular translocation for a patient with atrophic macular disease, and to discuss issues related to the selection of potential candidates for this technique.

DESIGN: Case report.

RESULTS: A 78-year-old woman with bilateral atrophic maculopathy and no choroidal neovascularization had slowly progressive loss of visual acuity for at least 17 months in the right eye and 25 months in the left eye. She underwent bilateral limited macular translocation, using scleral infolding in the right eye and scleral outpouching in the left eye. Following translocation of her maculae, her best-corrected visual acuity improved from 20/200 to 20/30 OD and from 20/180 to 20/100 OS. She remained stable during 30 months of follow-up for the right eye and 22 months of follow-up for the left eye.

CONCLUSION: Macular translocation may allow visual recovery in selected patients with atrophic maculopathy, even after a prolonged period of poor vision.