[Visual acuity and central retinal sensitivity following removal of epimacular membrane]

We evaluated visual acuity and central retinal sensitivity after removal of the epimacular membrane to explore whether and how the visual outcome differs between idiopathic disease (seven cases) and secondary disease following rhegmatogenous retinal detachment surgery (seven cases). A 12-month follow-up study revealed that both the idiopathic and the secondary group showed a marked improvement in visual acuity during the initial six months, followed by a slight decrease. As regards the central retinal sensitivity as assessed by an Octopus automated perimeter, the idiopathic group remained unchanged, but the secondary group showed a gradual improvement. In addition, postoperative visual acuity in the secondary group appeared to correlate with the preoperative central retinal sensitivity. Preoperative assessment of preoperative retinal sensitivity may provide a means of predicting postoperative visual outcome.