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Variability of Visual Recovery with Time in Epiretinal Membrane Surgery: A Predictive Analysis Based on Retinal Layer
Mary Romano1,2, Fiammetta Catania2,3, Josè Luis Vallejo-Garcia2
1Multidisciplinary Department of Medical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 80138 Naples, Italy.
Journal of Clinical Medicine
|March 29, 2023
Summary
Postoperative optical coherence tomography (OCT) reveals distinct retinal layer thickness changes correlating with visual recovery patterns after epiretinal membrane (ERM) surgery. These findings may help identify patients with unexpected poor or delayed visual outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Retinal Imaging
- Surgical Outcomes
Background:
- Idiopathic epiretinal membrane (ERM) surgery aims to improve vision.
- Predicting visual recovery patterns can be challenging, even without preoperative risk factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To correlate postoperative optical coherence tomography (OCT) findings with visual recovery patterns after ERM surgery.
- To identify specific retinal layer thickness changes associated with different visual acuity (VA) recovery trajectories.
Main Methods:
- Patients undergoing ERM surgery were assessed using best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and OCT preoperatively and at 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively.
- Patients were categorized into four groups based on their BCVA improvement patterns.
Main Results:
- Retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness changes and ganglion cell layer/central macular thickness (GCL/CMT) ratios varied between recovery groups.
- Specific changes in RNFL, GCL/IPL ratio, and outer nuclear layer (ONL) thickness were observed in different visual recovery patterns.
- Delayed visual recovery was associated with a late increase in RNFL thickness.
Conclusions:
- Distinct patterns of retinal layer thickness changes on OCT are linked to specific visual recovery outcomes post-ERM surgery.
- These OCT findings could potentially aid in identifying patients with suboptimal visual recovery despite favorable preoperative indicators.
