Myopic submacular hemorrhage (SMH) usually arises from either a break in Bruch's membrane (lacquer cracks) that damages the underlying choriocapillaris or the development of a choroidal neovascular membrane (CNVM) at the sites of prior lacquer cracks.1,2 In pathologic myopia (PM), axial elongation leads to thinning of the choroid and retinal pigment epithelium, predisposing to rupture of Bruch's membrane.3 If large hemorrhages involving the fovea are left untreated, subretinal hemorrhage and CNVM can cause devastating long-term vision loss due to irreversible retinal atrophy.4 In this video, the authors describe their technique of using a subretinal injection of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator with a concurrent gas tamponade to displace SMH.
Ocular alterations associated with pathologic myopia, especially those involving the macular area-defined as myopic maculopathy-are the leading causes of vision loss in patients with pathologic myopia.
Development of myopic choroidal neovascularization (CNV) is one of the most common complications that leads to central vision loss in patients with pathologic myopia.