Advances in subretinal hyperreflective material in neovascular age-related macular degeneration

Subretinal hyperreflective material (SHRM) is a morphologic feature seen on optical coherence tomography as hyperreflective material outside the retina and within the retinal pigment epithelium.SHRM is common in untreated neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) and often persists after anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy.It is also seen in central serous chorioretinopathy, uveitis, myopic choroidal neovascularization, myopic macular degeneration, Best disease, retinal malnutrition, Erdheim-Chester disease and so on.SHRM is closely associated with loss of the ellipsoid zone, scarring, disruption of outer limiting membrane, macular atrophy and outer retinal tubulations, and is significantly associated with visual impairment.Some SHRM was regression after anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy.The prognosis and responses to treatment of SHRM may vary depending on its components and characteristics.Identifying the morphologic characteristics and functional consequences of SHRM in nAMD may deepen the clinical understanding of SHRM.

Subretinal hyperreflective material; Neovascular age-related macular degeneration; Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy; Prognosis of visual acuity; Review