Morphologic and Postoperative Fixation Characteristics of the Macular Epiretinal Membrane in Young Patients...

To describe morphologic characteristics, surgical outcomes, postoperative preferred retinal loci (PRL), and fixation stability of epiretinal membranes (ERMs) in young patients.

This retrospective study analyzed 43 eyes of 41 young patients (age range: 0.8 years to 28 years) with ERMs, which were divided into two groups: secondary ERMs (SERMs; n = 28) and idiopathic ERMs (IERMs; n = 13). All 43 eyes underwent 25-gauge vitrectomy and membrane peeling. Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography scans and microperimetry were used to analyze morphologic and fixation characteristics, respectively.

Premacular fibrosis was more common in SERMs group (P = .006). SERMs were also associated with less external limiting membrane (ELM) (P = .008) and ellipsoid zone visibility (P = .008) compared with IERMs. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) improved in 20 eyes (69%) with SERMs (P = .005) and in 12 eyes (86%) with IERMs (P = .13). From the analysis of the postoperative fixation characteristics, there was a linear correlation between visual acuity and fixation stability (R² = 0.495).

BCVA improved significantly in young patients with ERM, even in cases with a severely disrupted ELM and ellipsoid zone. More attention should be paid to the postoperative fixation location and stability. [Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina. 2017;48:655-662.].