Idiopathic Epiretinal Membranes: Visual Outcomes and Prognostic Factors

Objectives: To evaluate the associations between anatomical changes and visual outcomes in patients with idiopathic epiretinal membranes (ERMs).
Materials and Methods: We performed a prospective study of 130 consecutive idiopathic ERMs patients and report on visual outcome and the associated factors between visual outcome and anatomical changes.
Results: Of the 130 eyes from 130 patients, 87 eyes underwent surgery, while the remaining 43 eyes were observed. At 6-month follow-up, the best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) increased in whole population; mean Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) letters changed from 51 to 65 in the surgical group and 67 to 68 in the non-surgical group. The surgical group had improvement in BCVA in all stages and grades (P < 0.01). In multivariable analysis of surgical group, the factors associated with BCVA of ETDRS 60 letters or more were no or mild disorganization of retinal inner layer (DRIL) and no presence of ellipsoid zone disruption at baseline (P=0.002 and P=0.034, respectively) and this statistically significant positive correlation was still maintained at 12-month follow-up
Conclusion: Baseline DRIL grading and presence of ellipsoid zone disruption as the most informative prognostic factors in patients with idiopathic ERMs. The patients with severe DRIL and/or advanced ERMs could improve their vision after the ERM removal.