There are 25 centers in the United States enrolling patients. The Wilmer Eye Institute at Johns Hopkins is one of those centers. Data from all the centers is collected and analyzed at Wilmer. Preliminary evaluation of surgery for submacular neovascularization showed that some patients appeared to have stable or improved vision postoperatively, but some were worse and because there were no patients without surgery to compare to those with surgery in these studies, it was impossible to know whether or not the surgery had been of benefit, or whether it was possibly of benefit in certain eye conditions but not in others. The SST study is trying to determine which method gives patients the better chance of improved vision.
Patients stay in the study for four years.
They may feel that doing something, anything, must be better than observation. However, observation is not the same as neglect. Although only one of each patient's eyes is considered in the study, both eyes are carefully monitored with vision measurement, photography, and doctors' examination. Life quality interviews are done to assess the patient's general well being. If at any time there is a new treatment developed and intervention is thought to be in the patient's best interest it will be recommended.