RESUMO
PURPOSE: To evaluate outcomes of epiretinal membrane (ERM) surgery in eyes with subretinal drusenoid deposits (SRDDs) and to compare them with those with isolated ERM. DESIGN: Retrospective case-control study of consecutive patients who underwent pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) with ERM peeling. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-five patients with SRDDs on spectral-domain (SD)-OCT who underwent surgery for ERM were included in the study. From the same cohort, for each case, we selected 2 age-matched control participants (50 eyes with isolated ERM). Preoperative best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) also was matched as closely as possible. METHODS: All participants underwent PPV and ERM peel for primary ERM. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Postoperative BCVA, improvement in BCVA, preoperative and postoperative central macular thickness, surgical complications, and development of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) were recorded. RESULTS: At final examination, mean postoperative BCVA was significantly less for eyes with SRDDs (0.51 logarithm of the minimal angle of resolution [logMAR] vs. 0.21 logMAR; P = 0.0001). Eyes with SRDDs demonstrated less improvement in BCVA after ERM surgery (0.13 logMAR vs. 0.30 logMAR; P = 0.0032). Eyes with SRDDs were significantly less likely to gain 2 or more Snellen lines of BCVA after ERM surgery (28% vs. 56%; P = 0.028). Three of 25 patients (12%) undergoing ERM surgery showed worsening of Snellen BCVA by 2 lines or more. Three of 25 eyes (12%) with SRDDs demonstrated advanced AMD after surgery, compared with 0 participants in the control group (P = 0.034). CONCLUSIONS: Epiretinal membrane surgery in eyes with SRDDs is associated with less favorable visual outcomes. Fewer patients demonstrate gain in BCVA, whereas a significant number show a deleterious decline. After surgery, AMD incidence seems high and patients may have an increased risk of raised intraocular pressure. These findings require further study to establish whether this represents a causal relationship. Surgeons should be vigilant for these complications. Appropriate patient counseling during the consenting process must be made.
