Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 12, 2026
Retinal Vascular Reactivity as Assessed by Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography
Published on: March 26, 2020
Anatomical changes in idiopathic epiretinal membrane at 2-year follow-up assessed using spectral domain optical
Kwang-Eon Choi1, Seungheon Kim1, Seong-Woo Kim2,3
1Department of Ophthalmology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
Purpose:
To evaluate anatomical changes in the low-stage partial attachment-type idiopathic epiretinal membrane (iERM) over 2 years.
Methods:
Data from patients with low-stage partial attachment-type iERM (stage 2) were analyzed. The main outcome measures were anatomical changes, including changes in the foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area, vessel density (VD) in the vascular plexus, and thickness of retinal sublayers during the follow-up period.
Results:
Thirty patients (mean age: 68±12 years) were included in the study. The FAZ area on the superficial vascular plexus (SVP) significantly decreased from baseline (0.12±0.08 mm2) to month 24 (0.10±0.08 mm2, p=0.024). However, the FAZ area on the deep vascular plexus (DVP) did not significantly decrease from baseline (0.15±0.13 mm2) to month 24 (0.14±0.14 mm2, p=0.099). VDs on both the SVP and DVP did not show significant change from baseline (29.51±8.14% vs. 28.35±5.63%) to month 24 (29.79±9.77%, p=0.564 vs. 28.17±5.75%, p=0.417). Parafoveal ganglion cell and inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) thickness decreased from baseline (108.77±13.61 μm) to month 24 (103.03±15.54 μm, p=0.004). The central total retinal layer thickness did not significantly change from baseline (396.07±64.86 μm) to month 24 (392.04±72.72 μm, p=0.570).
Conclusion:
Even in low-stage ERM, inner retinal changes, including GCIPL thickness, occurred during follow-up periods, which might be owing to degenerative changes or centrifugal movement.
