RATE AND SEVERITY OF EPIRETINAL MEMBRANE FORMATION AFTER SCLERAL BUCKLING SURGERY.

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Retinal Surgery
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) is a sight-threatening condition often treated with scleral buckling (SB).
• Epiretinal membrane (ERM) formation is a known complication after retinal surgery.
• Understanding ERM progression post-SB is crucial for patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the incidence and progression rate of epiretinal membrane (ERM) after scleral buckling (SB) for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD).
• To analyze visual acuity outcomes in patients who developed ERM post-SB.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of 1064 eyes undergoing SB for RRD between 2015 and 2022.
• Spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) used for ERM grading and structural analysis.
• Analysis of visual acuity (VA) in observed and surgically treated (membrane peeling) ERM cases.

Main Results:

• 13.4% (143/1064 eyes) developed ERM post-SB.
• Most ERM cases (85.3%) were managed conservatively with observed vision improvement over a mean 5.3-year follow-up.
• Eyes undergoing membrane peeling showed significant VA improvement (p<0.001).

Conclusions:

• Epiretinal membrane (ERM) is a common complication following scleral buckling (SB) for RRD.
• Conservative management is effective for mild ERM, with visual acuity improving over time.
• Surgical intervention (membrane peeling) offers significant visual benefits for symptomatic ERM.