J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  2003 Apr;44(4):857-864.

The Clinical Outcome and Prognostic Factors of Vitrectomy for Macular Epiretinal Membranes

• Lee HJ
• Kim HC

Abstract

PURPOSE
To evaluate the clinical outcome of vitrectomy on macular epiretinal membrane (ERM) and to identify prognostic factors for good postoperative visual acuity. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 73 patients with macular epiretinal membrane, who were treated by vitrectomy between 1988 and 2001, and followed for more than 3 months. RESULTS: Idiopathic ERM was 18 eyes (24.6%), and secondary ERM was 55 eyes (75.4%) among 73 eyes. The causes of secondary ERM were intraocular inflammation in 32 eyes, postsurgery in 12 eyes, trauma in 8 eyes and retinal vascular diseases in 3 eyes. Postoperatively, visual acuity improved at least 2 lines or more in 49 eyes (67.1%), unchanged in 17 eyes (23.3%), worsened in 7 eyes (9.6%). Postoperative complications occurred in 24 eyes (32.8%). They were cataract progression in 12 of 65 phakic eyes, recurred membranes in 4 eyes, retinal break in 3 eyes, and increased IOP, endophthalmitis, macular hole, hypotony. Among the various prognostic factors, preoperative visual acuity and idiopathic ERM showed statistical significance in this study (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that vitrectomy for macular ERM resulted in favorable visual improvement (67.1%) and preoperative visual acuity and idiopathic ERM were significant prognostic factors.

Keyword

Macular epiretinal membrane; Prognostic factors; Vitrectomy

MeSH Terms

Cataract
Endophthalmitis
Epiretinal Membrane*
Humans
Inflammation
Membranes
Postoperative Complications
Retinal Perforations
Retinaldehyde
Retrospective Studies
Vascular Diseases
Visual Acuity
Vitrectomy*
Retinaldehyde