Reproducibility of each retinal layer thickness measurement in epiretinal membrane patients with ectopic inner foveal layers

Background: To identify the reliability of each retinal layer thickness measurement in epiretinal membrane (ERM) patients with ectopic inner foveal layers (EIFLs). Methods: Subjects were divided into two groups: ERM patients with EIFLs (Group 1) and without EIFLs (Group 2). The retinal layer thickness was measured twice, and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and coefficient of variation (CV) values were calculated. Results: In Group 1, the CVs of the nerve fiber layer (NFL), ganglion cell layer (GCL), inner plexiform layer (IPL), inner nuclear layer (INL), outer plexiform layer (OPL), and outer nuclear layer (ONL) were 22.39%, 13.12%, 13.37%, 13.21%, 15.09%, and 11.94%, while the ICCs were 0.431, 0.550, 0.440, 0.286, 0.279, and 0.503, respectively. In Group 2, the CVs were 18.20%, 10.59%, 10.65%, 13.27%, 14.75%, and 10.37%, while the ICCs were 0.788, 0.834, 0.830, 0.715, 0.226, and 0.439, respectively. The average central macular thickness (CMT) was significantly correlated with the CVs of NFL (coefficient = 0.317; P < 0.001), GCL (coefficient = 0.328; P < 0.001), and IPL (coefficient = 0.186; P = 0.042) in Group 1. Conclusions: The reproducibility of the inner retinal layer thickness measurements in ERM patients with EIFLs was low compared to those without EIFLs. The reproducibility of the outer retinal layer thickness measurements, including OPL and ONL, was poor regardless of the presence of EIFLs in ERM patients. Additionally, the thicker the CMT in patients with EIFLs, the lower the reproducibility of the inner retinal layer thickness measurements.

Automated summary

This study aimed to evaluate the reliability of each retinal layer thickness measurement in epiretinal membrane (ERM) patients with ectopic inner foveal layers (EIFLs). The results showed that the reproducibility of inner retinal layer thickness measurements was poor in ERM patients with EIFLs. The reproducibility of outer retinal layer thickness measurements was also poor regardless of the presence of EIFLs in ERM patients. Additionally, the thicker the central macular thickness in patients with EIFLs, the lower the reproducibility of inner retinal layer thickness measurements.