Anatomic and functional results of idiopathic macular epiretinal membrane surgery.

Aim: To assess the impact of macular surgery on the functional and anatomic outcomes in patients with grade 2 epiretinal membrane (ERM), and the effect of internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling on visual acuity and to analyze the long-term effect of pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) on intraocular pressure (IOP).

Methods: Pseudophakic eyes (62 eyes) diagnosed as idiopathic grade 2 ERM with at least 6mo postoperative follow-up were included in this retrospective study. The fellow eye was nonvitrectomized. Patients were divided into two groups: group 1 (29 eyes) treated with ERM and ILM peeling and group 2 (33 eyes) with only ERM peeling. Preoperative and postoperative best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), slit-lamp, and a dilated fundus examination was performed. IOP was measured with Goldman applanation tonometer before, day 1 and first week and each visit after surgery. The incidence of significant IOP elevation was compared between vitrectomized eyes and nonvitrectomized fellow eyes.

Results: Visual improvement was statistically significant and similar in both groups (=0.008 in group 1, =0.002 in group 2, =0.09 inter-group). The amount of decrease in central macular thickness was statistically significant and similar in both groups (=0.005 group 1, =0.008 group 2, =0.37 intergroup). At the final follow-up (14.1±9.6mo) the incidence of significant IOP elevation was 4% in vitrectomized eyes (three eyes) and 3% (two eyes) in the nonvitrectomized fellow eyes (=0.12). Four eyes (12.1%) had recurrent ERM after a mean follow-up of 8.6±1.1mo in group 2, there was no recurrence in group 1 (=0.01).

Conclusion: Recurrence of ERM may be decreased by ILM peeling during ERM surgery. However, it seems that ILM peeling do not affect the functional outcome and 23-gauge PPV alone do not have a significant effect on IOP.