Long-term Follow-up Results of Idiopathic Epiretinal Membrane Removal in the Eyes with Ectopic Inner Foveal Retinal Layers.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to evaluate pre- and perioperative factors related to time for the evolution of ectopic inner foveal layers (EIFL) following pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) for epiretinal membrane (ERM) peeling.

METHODS

This retrospective study included 81 consecutive eyes with idiopathic ERM that underwent vitrectomy surgery. Standard PPV + internal limiting membrane peeling was performed in all cases. A comprehensive ophthalmic examination was performed for all patients before and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months, and the last follow-up after surgery. We observed the postoperative improvement in EIFL severity in the short-term and longest follow-up and evaluated anatomical and functional improvement. Several parameters were assessed using the multivariate COX proportional hazard analysis.

RESULTS

Eighty patients (81 eyes) with a mean age of 70.33 ± 7.75 years were followed for a mean of 34.37 ± 23.61 months, and 55.5% of eyes (45 eyes) with EIFL ERM showed improvement of foveal contour to a better stage at the last follow-up. The median estimated time for evolving to a better stage was 29.73 months for stage 2, 49.68 months for stage 3, and 38.67 months for stage 4 ( = 0.001, log-rank test). The severity of EIFL was the only significant factor for time to evolution of EIFL ERM to a better stage, where the eyes with stage 4 EIFL ERM showed faster foveal contour improvement compared to those with stage 3 EIFL ERM (hazard ratio: 0.317, 95% confidence interval = 0.164-0.615, = 0.001).

CONCLUSION

On assessing preoperative factors, the preoperative EIFL stage emerged as the sole significant factor for EIFL ERM improvement to a better disease stage. This study reports some of the longest follow-up durations for patients undergoing PPV for EIFL ERM, and both functional and anatomical improvements were observed across all stages of EIFL, including in the advanced stage 4 EIFL ERM.