Abstract
Purpose :
Epiretinal membranes (ERM) are slowly progressive and there is lack of correlation between structural worsening and functional change. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the anatomical worsening of ERMs using optical coherence tomography (OCT) and correlate with change in function via microperimetry and M-Chart testing.
Methods :
A single centre, prospective observational study conducted among subjects diagnosed with epiretinal membrane. Subjects were observed over a period of 12 months. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), M-chart, microperimetry and OCT results were recorded at baseline and after 3, 6, and 12 months. Functional parameters were correlated with OCT parameters to investigate the associative factors over 12 months.
Results :
The study included 99 eyes of 99 patients (53 female). Mean age was 68.4 years (8.7), majority being of Chinese ethnicity (91.9%).
When comparing the change in functional parameters in association to anatomical parameters over 12 months, there was no association between change in BCVA and anatomical values. Central retinal thickness (p=0.047), central 1mm macula volume (0.035) and disruption of retinal layers (=0.002) was significantly associated with change in M chart vertical, but only disruption of retinal layers remained significant on multivariate analysis (p=0.002). Central retinal thickness >350um (p=0.016), central 1mm macula volume (p=0.021), total macula volume (p=0.023) and presence of lamellar macula hole (p=0.047) were significantly associated with change in M chart horizontal, but only central retinal thickness >350um (p=0.024) and presence of macula hole (p=0.047) remained significant on multivariate analysis.
Central 1mm macula volume (p=0.38) and presence of cystoid macula oedema (p=0.029) were significantly associated with change in microperimetry threshold, and remained significant in multivariate analysis (p=0.031, p=0.037 respectively)
Conclusions :
Cystoid macula edema and a thicker macular volume within 1mm of the fovea is significantly associated with worsening microperimetry over 12 months in patients with ERM. Central retinal thickness and disrupted retinal layers was associated with worsening M-chart horizontal and vertical respectively
This abstract was presented at the 2024 ARVO Imaging in the Eye Conference, held in Seattle, WA, May 4, 2024.