Drainage Retinotomy Confers Risk of Epiretinal Membrane Formation After Vitrectomy for Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment Repair.

Abstract

To describe the factors associated with epiretinal membrane (ERM) formation in eyes treated with pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD). Nationwide, multicenter, clinical cohort study based on registry data. We reviewed 2239 cases treated with PPV for RRD repair registered in the Japan-Retinal Detachment Registry between February 2016 and March 2017. Associations of 13 baseline characteristics and 8 surgical procedures with ERM formation were evaluated using univariate analysis. We conducted a propensity score-matched analysis for the significantly associated clinical factor(s). The primary outcome measure was ERM formation after 6 months of vitrectomy. ERM had developed in 104 cases (4.6%) by 6 months. We found that drainage retinotomy was significantly associated with ERM after multiple testing correction (odds ratio [OR] 2.22 [95% confidence interval {CI} 1.50-3.31]; P < .001). In the propensity score-matched analysis (n = 492 in each group), we confirmed a significant difference in the incidence of ERM after 6 months of vitrectomy (8.3% and 2.6% in cases with and without drainage retinotomy, respectively; OR 3.35 [95% CI 1.77-6.33]; P < .001). Eyes treated with PPV combined with drainage retinotomy are more likely to develop ERM postoperatively.