ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT Purposes: The purpose of this study is to compare the standard inner limiting membrane peeling technique to the inner limiting membrane abrasion technique with respect to visual outcomes and central retinal thickness in the primary epiretinal membrane surgery. Methods: A total of 59 eyes from 57 epiretinal membrane patients were separated into two groups including the standard inner limiting membrane peeling group and the inner limiting membrane peeling with abrasion technique group. At 6, 12, and 24 months of follow-up, the mean alteration in best-corrected visual acuity and central retinal thickness were assessed for each group. Results: The study includes 32 (54%) standard inner peeling and 27 (46%) inner limiting membrane peeling with abrasion technique patients. The mean preoperative logMAR best-corrected visual acuity for the standard inner limiting membrane peeling and inner limiting membrane peeling with abrasion groups was 0.73 (±0.29) and 0.61 (±0.3) respectively. At 6, 12, and 24 months of follow-up, the best-corrected visual acuity improved significantly in each group. At each period of observation, the alteration in best-corrected visual acuity was not statistically significant (p=0.54, p=0.52, p=0.67). When comparing the alterations between the standard inner limiting membrane peeling and inner limiting membrane peeling with abrasion technique groups at 6 months (p=0.26) and 24 months (p=0.06), no statistically significant differences were observed, but they were statistically different at 12 months (p=0.03), reflecting a greater reduction in central retinal thickness for the inner limiting membrane peeling with abrasion technique group after one year. Conclusion: Abrasion of the inner limiting membrane with a diamond-dusted membrane scraper during epiretinal membrane surgery demonstrates similar effectiveness to the standard inner limiting membrane peeling technique. At 12 months, retinal thinning was found to be more significant in inner limiting membrane peeling with abrasion technique patients in terms of central retinal thickness values. As a result, it may be argued that the inner limiting membrane abrasion technique eliminates the inner limiting membrane and related structures more effectively while inflicting less retinal damage.
RESUMO Objetivo: Este estudo tem como objetivo comparar a técnica padrão de peeling da membrana limitadora interna com a técnica de abrasão da membrana limitadora interna com relação aos resultados visuais e à espessura central da retina na cirurgia primária de membrana epirretiniana. Métodos: Cinquenta e nove olhos de 57 pacientes com membrana epirretiniana foram divididos em dois grupos, incluindo o grupo de remoção padrão da membrana limitante interna e o grupo de remoção da membrana limitante interna com técnica de abrasão. A alteração média da melhor acuidade visual corrigida e da espessura central da retina foram medidas para cada grupo aos 6, 12 e 24 meses de acompanhamento. Resultados: O estudo incluiu 32 (54%) de padrão de membrana limitante e 27 (46%) de membrana interna com técnica de abrasão. A média de logMar pré-operatório de melhor acuidade visual corrigida foi de 0,73 (±0,29) e 0,61 (±0,3) para os grupos de remoção padrão da membrana limitante interna e de remoção da membrana limitante interna com técnica de abrasão, respectivamente. A melhor acuidade visual corrigida melhorou significativamente em cada grupo aos 6, 12 e 24 meses de acompanhamento. A alteração na melhor acuidade visual corrigida não foi estatisticamente significante (p=0,54, p=0,52, p=0,67) em cada período de observação. Quanto à espessura central da retina, diferenças estatisticamente significativas não foram observadas aos 6 meses (p=0,26) e 24 meses (p=0,06), mas foram estatisticamente diferentes aos 12 meses (p=0,03) quando comparadas às alterações entre os grupos de remoção padrão da membrana limitante interna e de remoção da membrana limitante interna com técnica de abrasão, refletindo uma maior redução da espessura central da retina para o grupo de remoção da membrana limitante interna com técnica de abrasão após um ano. Conclusão: A abrasão da membrana limitante interna com um raspador de membrana com pó de diamante em cirurgia de membrana epirretiniana demonstra eficácia semelhante com a técnica de remoção padrão de membrana limitante interna. Em relação aos valores de espessura central da retina, o afinamento da retina foi mais significativo em pacientes com remoção da membrana limitante interna com técnica de abrasão aos 12 meses. Assim, pode-se argumentar que a técnica de abrasão da membrana limitante interna remove a membrana limitante interna e as estruturas relacionadas de forma mais eficaz sem causar danos significativos à retina.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To compare the visual acuity and retinal thickness in patients with an idiopathic epiretinal membrane (ERM) after vitrectomy and membranectomy using two different methods.METHODS: This retrospective observational study included 77 eyes (32 eyes in the diamond-dusted membrane scraper [DDMS] group, and 45 eyes in the intraocular forceps [IOF] group) of 77 patients with idiopathic ERM who underwent pars plana vitrectomy and membranectomy. The main outcome measures were best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA, logMAR) and mean retinal thickness.RESULTS: In the IOF group, the BCVA at postoperative 1 week was significantly lower than at baseline and had improved at 12 weeks after surgery. In the DDMS group, the BCVA at postoperative 1 week showed no significant difference at baseline and had improved at 4 weeks after surgery. The central macular thickness at postoperative 6 months was significantly lower than at baseline (all, p < 0.001); there was no significant difference between the two groups (p = 0.400). The postoperative macular thickness of the DDMS group was significantly lower than that of the IOF group in the inner inferior and outer inferior areas at postoperative 12 weeks and 4 weeks (p = 0.046 and p = 0.039, respectively). Five eyes of the DDMS group and 15 eyes of the IOF group developed cystoid macular edema, 14 eyes of that improved without treatment.CONCLUSIONS: In patients with ERM, the use of DDMS or IOF for vitrectomy and membranectomy both resulted in improved visual acuity and decreased mean retinal thicknesses.
Subject(s)
Humans , Epiretinal Membrane , Macular Edema , Membranes , Observational Study , Outcome Assessment, Health Care , Retinaldehyde , Retrospective Studies , Surgical Instruments , Visual Acuity , VitrectomyABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The Diamond dusted membrane scraper (DDMS) is a useful instrument for removing the fine cortical vitreous and epiretinal membranes. We report the efficacy of a DDMS in macular hole surgery. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the hospital records of those who were diagnosed as macular hole for the recent 3 years. Twenty five consecutive eyes of twenty three patients underwent pars plana vitrectomy with gas tamponade. Removal of epiretinal membranes and cortical vitreous was performed using either conventional tools or a DDMS. The effects of the DDMS on the anatomical and functional success rate were compared between two groups. RESULTS: Of 25 eyes, 18 eyes (72.0%) were successfully closed, and 14 eyes (56.0%) had improvement in visual acuity of at least two lines or more. In DDMS group (n=10), all 10 eyes (100%) were successfully closed, compared with 8 eyes (53.3%) of conventional group (n=15) (P=0.013). But we couldn't achieve a significantly higher rate in functional success ; 70.0% vs 46.7% in each group (P=0.173). According to the duration of symptom , we devided all patients into those of 6 months or less and those of more than 6 months. The former (n=16) had a significantly higher rate than the latter (n=9) in anatomical success ; 14 eyes (87.5%) vs 4 eyes (44.4%) (P=0.031). However, there was no significant difference in functional success rate ; 62.5% vs 44.4% in each group (P=0.226). CONCLUSIONS: The DDMS appears to be more effective than conventional tools for removing epiretinal membranes and cortical vitreous and may increase the anatomical success rate in macular hole surgery.