Abstract
Purpose: :
Visual acuity is the main prognostic factor for idiopathic epiretinal membrane (iERM) surgery. The aim of this study is to analyze the correlation of visual acuity with retinal sensitivity and macular thickness, and to determine their relevance in the preoperative evaluation of macular function in patients presenting iERM.
Methods: :
14 patients with unilateral iERM and 12 normal fellow eyes were prospectively included. Retinal sensitivity and macular thickness were assessed by scanning laser ophthalmoscope (SLO) microperimetry testing and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT), respectively, on the Spectral OCT/SLO instrument (OPKO/OTI). Mean retinal sensitivities in the central 2° and 10° areas were determined. Macular thickness was registered within a central 1 mm circle and for the total macular area. All findings were correlated with logMAR best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA). Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated, and Student t-test was used to compare means.
Results: :
Eyes with iERM showed significantly lower BCVA (P < 0.0001) and retinal sensitivity in both 2° and 10° areas (P= 0.002 and P= 0.01, respectively), and significantly higher macular thickness in the central and total areas (P < 0.0001) than control eyes. In affected eyes, there was a significant correlation between BVCA and mean retinal sensitivity in the central 2° area (P= 0.04), but not in the 10° area. A significant correlation was observed between BVCA and macular thickness in both central and total areas (P=0.001). Central 2° retinal sensitivity was also correlated with central macular thickness (P= 0.01).
Conclusions: :
BCVA correlates with central retinal sensitivity, and both central and total macular thickness in patients with iERM. Combination of central microperimetry testing and OCT improves the preoperative evaluation of macular function in patients with iERM, and could serve as new prognostic tool.
Keywords: imaging methods (CT, FA, ICG, MRI, OCT, RTA, SLO, ultrasound) • macula/fovea • vitreoretinal surgery