The following is a summary of “Microperimetric evaluation for different methods of epiretinal membrane surgery,” published in the June 2023 issue of Opthalmology by Nam et al.

Epiretinal membrane (ERM) is a condition in which a thin, web-like membrane forms over the macula, the central part of the retina. The functional outcome of different surgical methods for ERM can be assessed using a visual field test known as microperimetry.

Using microperimetry, researchers performed a retrospective study to evaluate different surgical methods’ anatomical and functional effects on idiopathic ERM.

The study included 41 patients who underwent combined ERM and cataract surgery. Before and after 6 and 12 months after surgery, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), optical coherence tomography (OCT), and microperimetry were performed. 

To assay the outcome, patients were divided into 3 groups “ERM removal only without indocyanine green (ICG) staining,” “ERM and internal limiting membrane (ILM) removal without ICG staining,” and “ERM and ILM removal with ICG staining.” Preoperatively, there were no significant differences in age, BCVA, central macular thickness (CMT), and mean retinal sensitivities of central 6° MRSs (P> 0.05). Postoperatively, MRSs were similar between certain groups (P > 0.05). However, the group with ICG staining had significantly lower MRSs than the group without (P< 0.05).

This study found ERM and ILM removal with ICG staining may reduce retinal sensitivity. More studies are needed to confirm this finding.

Source: bmcophthalmol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12886-023-03056-3