Visual and Anatomic Outcomes of Epiretinal Membrane Peeling After Previous Primary Retinal Detachment Repair

Abstract

 

Purpose

 

To describe visual and anatomic outcomes after epiretinal membrane (ERM) peeling surgery in patients with prior rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RD) repair.

 

Methods

 

Retrospective chart review of 1,160 patients. Patients who had undergone PPV/MP for ERM after rhegmatogenous RD repair were identified. Information collected included preoperative data along with best-correct visual acuity (BCVA) and OCT characteristics at the visit prior to ERM surgery and at postoperative months 1, 3, 6, and 12.

 

Results

 

54 eyes of 53 patients met inclusion criteria. Mean BCVA and mean CFT improved significantly after ERM surgery at all time points. Patients with preoperative visual acuity better than 20/100 achieved better BCVA after ERM peeling (P≤0.001). Thinner preoperative CFT correlated with better postoperative BCVA at 6 and 12 months (P<0.05). No correlation was found between fluid location and BCVA. Intact IS/OS junction and ELM trended with better visual outcomes. Patients with macula-on status achieved better BCVA after ERM peeling compared to their macula-off counterparts (P<0.05).

 

Conclusions

 

In this study ERM peeling after uncomplicated RD repair led to significant improvement in VA and OCT thickness, even in those with a previous macula-off RD. Better pre-operative VA and thinner preoperative CFT correlated with better postoperative visual outcomes.

 

 

Representative fundus photograph and SD-OCT of patient with previous RD repair who underwent ERM surgery which resulted in improved Va.

 

 

Representative SD-OCT of patient with previous RD repair who underwent ERM surgery which resulted in thinner CFT and improved Va.

 

Keywords: 697 retinal detachment • 688 retina • 762 vitreoretinal surgery