Abstract
Purpose :
Fundus autofluorescence (FAF) at the macula originates from hyperfluorescence from retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and blockage of hyperfluorescence by macular pigment; xythantophyll. We evaluate whether presence of FAF may correlate to the postoperative visual outcome for epiretinal membrane.
Methods :
Ninety-one eyes with epiretinal membrane were performed vitreous surgery, epiretinal membrane removal and internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling. Presence of hyperfluorescence in FAF at the macular area and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was evaluated preoperatively and at postoperative 1, 3, and 6 months with Optos ultra-wide angle imaging.
Results :
Postoperative hyperfluorescence was detected in 23 of 89 eyes (26%) at 1 month, 19 of 84 eyes (23%) at 3 months, 10 of 53 eyes (19%) at 6 months. Postoperative BCVA was worse in eyes with hyperfluorescence at the macula at 1 month (P<0.0001), 3 months (P<0.0001), 6 months (P=0.0004) comparing to the eyes without hyperfluorescence.
Conclusions :
Postoperative visual recovery after epiretinal membrane surgery may correlate with the presence of persistent hyperfluorescence at the macula which originates from retinal and RPE damage and volume of macular pigment.
This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2016 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Seattle, Wash., May 1-5, 2016.