Outcomes of Epiretinal Membrane Removal in Eyes with and without Concurrent Vision-Limiting Ocular Disease

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate preoperative and intraoperative parameters in patients who underwent pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) for epiretinal membrane (ERM) removal and identify prognostic factors for visual recovery and complications. Furthermore, eyes with and without additional vision-limiting ocular disease were compared. Methods: Ninety eyes of 90 patients who underwent PPV and ERM peeling were included in this retrospective study. Patients were divided according to the presence of additional vision-limiting conditions. Results: The mean visual acuity (VA) improvement was –0.156 logMAR. No parameter was found to correlate with the final VA or postoperative complications. Thirty-four patients (37.8%) had concurrent vision-limiting ocular conditions. Although these eyes had lower initial and final VA, there was no significant difference in VA improvement between them and eyes without concurrent disease. Conclusions: PPV and membrane peeling is an effective treatment for patients with ERM, even in the presence of concurrent vision-limiting ocular disease.

Vitrectomy for Idiopathic Epiretinal Membrane in Elderly Patients: Surgical Outcomes and Visual Prognosis

“…2,7,8,[22][23][24] They are also comparable with the results reported in a recent study by our group, which included 90 patients who underwent PPV and MP with a mean age of 71.5 years. 32 It is important to note that the patient age in our series is the highest reported in the literature, with a mean of 79.6 years, compared to 62 to 73 years in other series. [7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21] Our results indicate that PPV for ERM peeling is not less efficient in restoring VA in elderly patients than in younger patients.…”

“…These are comparable to complication rates in previously published studies of patients who underwent PPV and ERM peeling: RD in 0 to 7% of cases, 8,14,15,23,33 CME in 0 to 24% of cases, 8,14,15,19,23,33 elevated IOP in 8 to 25% of cases 8,34 and cataract progression in as many as 80% of cases within 2 years of surgery. 32,[35][36][37] Recurrence of ERM has been reported in 0 to 18% of patients. 15,23,33 Concurrent cataract extraction was performed in the majority (73%) of the phakic eyes in our series.…”

Idiopathic Epiretinal Membranes: Visual Outcomes and Prognostic Factors

“…18 Several studies have reported favorable success rates in visual improvement and low risk of complications from PPV and membrane peeling in patients with idiopathic ERMs. 4,10,19,20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29 It is possible that early PPV could result in the preservation of better visual acuity and less irreversible damage to the retina than the usual follow-up regimen, which basically results in performing PPV when visual impairment and/or more advanced anatomical changes have occurred. 30,31,32 In severe ERM patients, PPV is controversial because photoreceptor cells may be severely disrupted, resulting in permanent visual loss.…”

“…These findings are similar to previous studies. 20,24,29,45 The OCT feature termed DRIL was firstly characterized by Sun et al 55 as the horizontal extent in microns for which any boundaries between the GC-IPL, INL, and OPL could not be identified. Particularly, DRIL was found to be associated with visual acuity after the resolution of center-involving diabetic macular edema and improvement in DRIL was predictive of better visual outcomes.…”