Short-term results of combinated surgery of vitrectomy and phacoemulsification with implantation of extended-depth-of-focus intraocular lens: A case series.

Abstract

Purpose : There are no previous studies analyzing the feasibility of implantation of extended-depth-of-focus (EDOF) intraocular lens (IOL) in patients with symptomatic epiretinal membranes. The aim of our study was to evaluate the clinical outcomes of the implantation of EDOF IOLs in eyes that underwent combined phacovitrectomy surgery to treat epiretinal membrane (ERM).

Methods : This is a retrospective series of cases of adult patients with epiretinal membrane complaining of symptomatic decreased visual acuity (VA) or metamorphopsia who underwent phacovitrectomy with extended-range intraocular lens implantation between March 2021 and June 2022 in two specialized clinics in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The main outcome measures were: near VA, intermediate VA, distant VA, refractive error and macular thickness at regular intervals between baseline and 180 days. Descriptive statistics was reported according to the distribution of the variables. Changes in visual acuity and macular thickness were compared with the paired t-test or Wilcoxon sign rank as appropriate.

Results : Twenty-seven patients with a mean age of 70.92 years (SD 6.35) were included, 14 (52%) were women. The median preoperative distance visual acuity was 0.397 logMAR (IQR 0.301-0.477), at 30 days 0.301 logMAR (IQR 0.176-0.544), at 60 days 0.176 (IQR 0.097-0.397), at 90 days 0.176 (IQR 0.097-0.301) and at 180 days 0.097 (IQR 0.097-0.176). The residual refractive error at 90 days was -0.35 diopters (SD 0.21). Preoperative macular thickness was 442.4 μm (SD 85.5) and at 90 days (N=27) 330.5 μm (SD 66.0), p= <0.001.

Conclusions : We observed that after the seventh postoperative day, visual acuity progressively improved and stabilized by day 90. The refractive error was less than 1 diopter in every patient at 90 days. Our study shows that the implantation of EDOF IOLs is a valid option in phacovitrectomies for the treatment of symptomatic epiretinal membranes.

This abstract was presented at the 2024 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Seattle, WA, May 5-9, 2024.

 

Visual acuity progression over time

 

Macular anatomical changes over time