[Ablation of the internal limiting membrane, macular unfolding and visual outcome in surgery of idiopathic epimacular membranes].

The files of 40 patients operated on for epimacular membranes were reviewed in order to correlate the functional and anatomical results with the presence or absence of internal limiting membrane on histological specimens. Only the eyes with idiopathic membranes were considered for the study. Visual acuity and fluorescein angiography were obtained preoperatively and at the 6 months postoperative visit. The surface of the posterior pole was measured on fluorescein angiogram pre and postoperatively by computerized image analysis. Light microscopy looked for the presence of significant segments of internal limiting membrane. In 28 cases (group 1) long segments of internal limiting membrane were adherent to the epimacular membrane and in 12 cases (group 2) no internal limiting membrane fragments or only small fragments were present. Mean postoperative visual acuity was the same in the two groups; 64% of eyes from group I and 50% from group 2 had visual acuity superior or equal to 0.5 (NS). Image analysis showed that the posterior pole surface area increased by 25% in group 1 but only by 15% in group 2 (p < 0.025). Internal limiting membrane ablation does not preclude good visual recovery and is correlated with improved unfolding of the posterior pole.