Preoperative and intraoperative prognostic factors of epiretinal membranes using chromovitrectomy and internal limiting membrane peeling.

Background And Objective: To evaluate the preoperative and intraoperative findings as prognostic indicators of functional and anatomic results of idiopathic epiretinal membrane (ERM) surgery.

Patients And Methods: Vitrectomies included ERM and internal limiting membrane (ILM) removal with vital dyes. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), optical coherence tomography (OCT), fluorescein angiography, and autofluorescence were performed at baseline and postoperatively. Intraoperative ILM status after ERM removal was also evaluated.

Results: Thirty-one eyes were monitored for a mean of 16.78 months. BCVA and central foveal thickness (CFT) improved significantly (P < .001) from baseline at 3 and 12 months. Preoperative hyperautofluorescence was associated with greater CFT reduction (P < .005). ILM status after ERM peeling did not influence visual recovery but was associated with anatomical results as measured by OCT.

Conclusion: Preoperative poor initial BCVA and RPE defects by FAF may not be bad prognostic factors. Preoperative hyperautofluorescence was associated with greater CFT reduction. Intraoperative classification of ILM status after ERM and ILM staining/peeling was reported and may be useful for future studies, though it was not associated neither with preoperative nor postoperative BCVA.