Multimodal Assessment of the Prognostic Role of Ectopic Inner Foveal Layers on Epiretinal Membrane Surgery

Background: To perform a multimodal assessment of the ectopic inner foveal layers' (EIFL) prognostic role on idiopathic epiretinal membrane (ERM) surgery. Methods: We retrospectively followed-up for 12 months 27 patients who underwent ERM surgery and stratified them based on EIFL presence (group 1) or absence (group 2) at baseline. Central Retinal Thickness (CRT) and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) were compared pre- and post-operatively at 1, 4 and 12 months, whereas fixation stability (FS), macular sensitivity (MS) and multifocal electroretinogram (mfERG) responses were confronted at baseline and 12 months. Results: In group 1, BCVA improved at 4 and 12 months (MD = 0.14 (SE = 0.04); MD = 0.13 (SE = 0.05), respectively) as well as in group 2 (MD = 0.31 (SE = 0.07); MD = 0.41 (SE = 0.08), respectively). CRT did not change in group 1, whereas it decreased in group 2 at 4 and 12 months (MD = -73.13; SE = 23.56; MD = -76.20; SE = 23.56). MS showed no changes in both groups after surgery. FS did not change in group 1, whereas group 2 improved FS 2 & DEG; (+8.91 & PLUSMN; 13.97) and FS 4 & DEG; (+4.33 & PLUSMN; 3.84). MfERG P1 wave did not change in group 1, while in group 2 & alpha;P1-2, & alpha;P1-3 and & alpha;P1-4 improved postoperatively (27.97 & PLUSMN; 27.62; 12.51 & PLUSMN; 17.36; 10.49 & PLUSMN; 17.19, respectively). Conclusions: Multimodal assessment confirmed that EIFL negatively affected ERM surgery outcomes.

Automated summary

A multimodal assessment was performed to evaluate the prognostic role of ectopic inner foveal layers (EIFL) in idiopathic epiretinal membrane (ERM) surgery. The results showed that the presence of EIFL negatively affected the surgical outcomes.