Preoperative Vision, Gender, and Operation Time Predict Visual Improvement After Epiretinal Membrane Vitrectomy: A Retrospective Study

Abstract

Background

To evaluate the efficacy of micro-incision vitrectomy surgery using a non-contact wide-angle viewing system for fovea-attached type epiretinal membrane, and to report the factors influencing the outcome.

Methods

A retrospective, comparative case series that included 50 patients with fovea-attached type epiretinal membrane who received micro-incision vitrectomy surgery using a non-contact wide-angle viewing system.

Results

All patients were followed-up for a minimum of 12 months. Seven cases were classified as group 1A (mainly outer retinal thickening), 17 were group 1B (more tenting of outer retina and distorted inner retina), and 26 were group 1C (prominent inner retina thickening and inward tenting of outer retina). Outcome measures included operation time, recurrent rate, postoperative BCVA, and CRT. The mean operative time was 26.2 minutes. The mean change of BCVA (LogMAR) was −0.43 (p< 0.001). The mean change of CRT was 135.3 μm (p< 0.001). The mean change of CRT was significantly higher in group 1C. Worse preoperative BCVA, male gender, and longer operative time can predict better postoperative BCVA found by multivariate logistic regression and multiple regression models.

Conclusion

Significant improvement in BCVA and CRT is noted after micro-incision vitrectomy surgery to operate fovea-attached type epiretinal membranes. Worse preoperative BCVA, male, and longer operation time could predict better improvement. These findings may assist surgeons in better evaluating the potential of this method to help their patients with epiretinal membranes.

Keywords:

• fovea-attached type epiretinal membrane
• gender
• micro-incision vitrectomy surgery
• operation time
• preoperative vision
• wide-angle viewing system

Abbreviations

BCVA, best-corrected visual acuity; CRT, central retinal thickness; ERM, epiretinal membrane; ICG, indocyanine green; ILM, internal limiting membrane; IOP, intraocular pressure; MIVS, micro-incision vitrectomy; OCT, optical coherence tomography; PPV, pars plana vitrectomy; WAVS, wide-angle viewing system.

Data Sharing Statement

The datasets used and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Ethics Approval and Consent to Participate

The study protocol described here was approved by the Institutional Review Board of China Medical University Hospital and conformed to the tenets of the Declaration of Helsinki.

Consent for Publication

All patients have provided written informed consent for the publication of their data and images.

Disclosure

The authors have no proprietary, commercial, or non-commercial interest in any materials mentioned in this article. The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

Additional information

Funding

No funding was used for the design and conduction of this study.