Epiretinal membrane removal in eyes with good visual acuities.

Abstract

To evaluate the results of vitrectomy for epiretinal membrane in eyes with a preoperative visual acuity of 20/50 or better. The visual results and complications of vitrectomy for epiretinal membranes were analyzed in a retrospective, consecutive case series of 40 eyes of 40 patients treated by a single surgeon. The mean preoperative visual acuity was 20/50 + 2 (range 20/30 + 1 to 20/50 -3). The mean visual acuity improved to 20/40 + 2 (P = 0.02) by the final examination at a mean of 2.4 years following surgery. The status of the lens at the final examination was correlated with the visual results of surgery. Twenty-one eyes were phakic preoperatively and 14 of these eyes had cataracts removed by the final examination. The mean preoperative visual acuity in 7 eyes which were still phakic at the final examination was 20/50 and this decreased to 20/50 -2 (P = 0.82). The mean preoperative visual acuity was 20/50 + 2 in 33 eyes which were pseudophakic by the final examination and this improved to 20/32 -2 (P = 0.005). There were no other serious complications such as retinal detachment or infectious endophthalmitis. Vitrectomy for epiretinal membranes is safe in eyes with relatively good preoperative visual acuities but cataract surgery is necessary in phakic eyes to achieve long-term visual acuity improvement.