EPIRETINAL MEMBRANE AND SENILE CATARACT: Combined Versus Sequential Surgery.

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Surgical Innovation

Background:

• Senile cataract and epiretinal membrane often coexist.
• Current surgical options include combined or sequential procedures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare outcomes of combined phacovitrectomy versus sequential phacoemulsification and vitrectomy.
• Evaluate visual acuity and macular thickness in patients with both conditions.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective multicenter study (2014-2022) with 76 patients.
• Patients underwent either combined or sequential surgery.
• Best-corrected visual acuity and central macular thickness were measured post-surgery.

Main Results:

• Both approaches improved visual acuity and reduced macular thickness at 6 months.
• Sequential surgery demonstrated significantly faster visual recovery at 1 month.
• P-values: 0.008 for visual acuity, <0.0001 for macular thickness in sequential group at 1 month.

Conclusions:

• Sequential surgery provides faster early visual recovery compared to combined surgery.
• The sequential approach may prevent unnecessary vitrectomy, reducing overtreatment risks.
• Both methods achieve significant improvements at 6 months.