Clinical Outcomes of Indocyanine Green-Assisted Peeling of the Internal Limiting Membrane in Epiretinal Membrane Surgery

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: In this study we compared the clinical outcomes of idiopathic epiretinal membrane (ERM) surgery according to the use of indocyanine green (ICG) and ICG exposure time. METHODS: The medical records of 76 patients with an idiopathic ERM that underwent vitrectomy and ERM and internal limiting membrane (ILM) removal were reviewed. We compared the results (best corrected visual acuity [BCVA, log MAR] and central macular thickness [CMT, µm]) of idiopathic ERM surgeries using ILM peeling with (group I, 39 eyes) and without ICG (group II, 37 eyes). Additionally, the correlation of ICG exposure time and clinical outcomes in group I was analyzed. RESULTS: Gender, age, lens state, preoperative BCVA, and preoperative CMT were not significantly different between the two groups. The postoperative BCVA was significantly improved in both groups but the difference was not statistically significant. The postoperative CMT was significantly improved in both groups and the change amount of group I was more larger than group II. Additionally, ICG exposure time was not significantly correlated with changes of BCVA and CMT. CONCLUSIONS: Intravitreal ICG-assisted ILM peeling did not significantly affect the recovery of BCVA, however that impaired the recovery of CMT. ICG exposure time did not affect the postoperative visual outcome.