Result of Surgery for Epiretinal Membrane and Their Recurrence

ABSTRACT

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 25 cases of removal of macular epiretinal membrane who had been treated by vitrectomy. Indication for vitrectomy was decreased central vision less than 20/60, metamorphopsia or progressive decreased vision (more than 2 lines on Snellen chart) during 6 months.Preoperative and postoperative examination include best corrected visual acuity, biomicroscopic fundus examination with contact and other routine ocular examination.A standard three port pars plana vitrectomy with removal of membrane was performed in all cases, and the lens was removed when necessary.The average follow up period was 12.9 +/-8 . 4 months.Nineteen of 25 eyes (76%)showed a postoperative visual improvement of two lines or more on Snellen chart.Postoperative visual acuity was improved more than 20/40 in 10 of 25 eyes (40%).Postoperative complications were recurrence of uveitis in 3 eyes, progressive cataract in 6 of 14 phakic eyes and recurrent epiretinal membrane in 1 eye.This study demonstrates that vitrectomy for macular epiretimnal membrane results in the overall favorable visual prognosis without serious complication.