CHANGES OF OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY ANGIOGRAPHY PARAMETERS AFTER INTERNAL LIMITING MEMBRANE PEELING COMPARED WITH NONPEELING IN EPIRETINAL MEMBRANE SURGERY.

PURPOSE

To prospectively compare microvascular changes of internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeled and nonpeeled eyes in patients with idiopathic epiretinal membranes using optical coherence tomography angiography.

METHODS

Forty-two patients with epiretinal membranes underwent vitrectomy with (n = 22) or without ILM peeling (n = 20). The mean superficial capillary plexus foveal avascular zone area change between preoperative and three-month postoperative readings served as the main outcome measure. Secondary outcome parameters included mean changes in superficial capillary plexus parafoveal vessel density, central foveal thickness, retinal volume, and best-corrected visual acuity.

RESULTS

Mean superficial capillary plexus foveal avascular zone area change (μm 2 ) was 59 ± 74 in the ILM nonpeeling group compared with -12 ± 86 in the ILM peeling group ( P = 0.007). Similarly, mean superficial capillary plexus parafoveal vessel density change (%) was higher in the ILM nonpeeling group (ILM nonpeeling 4 ± 4, ILM peeling -2 ± 6, P = 0.003). The mean retinal volume reduction was higher in the ILM peeling group, and this difference also reached statistical significance ( P = 0.036). There were no intergroup differences in mean central foveal thickness change and mean best-corrected visual acuity change ( P = 0.409 and P = 0.440, respectively). Epiretinal membrane/ILM separation was achieved in 23 of 51 patients.

CONCLUSION

The macular microvasculature demonstrated more remodeling in the ILM nonpeeling group after three months.