Surgical Management of Choroidal Diseases

Abstract

Accumulation of serous fluid in the suprachoroidal space, known as uveal effusion, and choroidal or suprachoroidal haemorrhage (SCH) following rupture of ciliary blood vessels are considered rare, but serious, events with extremely poor functional prognosis. As a result, uveal effusion, and expulsive suprachoroidal haemorrhage in particular, continue to be considered as more or less fatal complications. However, clinical experience demonstrates that both clinical entities can be managed by conservative as well as surgical strategies, depending on their severity and localisation, with sometimes surprisingly favourable visual outcome. In addition to prognostic factors, timely recognition and prompt, if possible preventive, acute care, as well as carefully considered timing of adequate surgical measures taking advantage of the specific characteristics of the choroidal tissue, are crucial to treatment success. Along with technical advances in the field of vitreoretinal surgery, numerous variants of therapeutic approaches to the treatment of choroidal effusion and suprachoroidal haemorrhage have been proposed to date. This review presents some of the most important surgical techniques and strategies in the field.