Long-Term Outcomes of Vitrectomy for Idiopathic Epiretinal Membrane With Internal Limiting Membrane Removal in Patients With Good Preoperative Visual Acuity.

To evaluate the long-term visual results of vitrectomy with epiretinal membrane (ERM) and internal limiting membrane (ILM) removal for idiopathic ERM in eyes with a preoperative visual acuity (VA) of 20/50 or better. This retrospective review of a consecutive case series comprised 337 patients. Of these, 36 eyes of 36 patients had ERM and ILM removal from 2017 to 2018. Inclusion criteria included a subjective decrease in VA, a preoperative VA of 20/50 or better, vitrectomy with ERM and ILM removal for ERM, and a minimum 6-month follow-up. Paired tests were used to determine the statistical significance ( < .05) of VA changes postoperatively. The mean (±SD) best-corrected logMAR VA improved to a maximum of 0.125 ± 0.09 (Snellen equivalent 20/26.4) at a mean of 11.1 months postoperatively ( < .001). The VA continued to significantly improve over the long term (mean, 41.6 months; range, 6-63;  < .001). Overall long-term data trended heavily toward VA improvement (25/36 patients [69.4%]) and stability (10/36 patients [27.7%)] after ERM and ILM removal, with only 1 patient (2.8%) having worse VA. There were no intraoperative or postoperative complications related to ERM and ILM removal. Surgery to remove idiopathic ERM and ILM for patients with significant symptoms and good preoperative VA may result in excellent long-term visual results.