[Macular pucker surgery with and without delamination of the internal limiting membrane-a prospective randomized study]

Long-Term Visual Outcomes in Patients With Idiopathic Epiretinal Membrane Surgery

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Our aim was to assess long-term outcomes following surgical repair of idiopathic epiretinal membrane (ERM) with pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) and membrane peel (MP).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A retrospective study evaluated patients with idiopathic ERM who underwent surgical repair at a single academic tertiary center with five to nine years of postoperative follow-up, assessing preoperative characteristics, surgical techniques, best visual acuity (BVA), and optical coherence tomography biomarkers at various time points.

RESULTS

The study involved 67 patients (72 eyes) with an average postoperative follow-up of 82.8 ± 18.8 months. Patients with cone outer segment tips integrity at initial presentation and 1-year follow-up and patients with external limiting membrane and ellipsoid zone integrity at 1-year follow-up were noted to have significantly better long-term visual acuity than those without. More than 85% of patients achieved a BVA > 70 seven years after surgical repair.

CONCLUSIONS

Vitreoretinal surgery for idiopathic ERM resulted in improved anatomical recovery and sustained visual acuity gain over long-term follow-up. [Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina 2024;55:70-77.].

[Disorders of the visual system following vitreoretinal and macular surgery]

The visual system is highly complex. Monocular or binocular disorders can develop, for example during tractive alterations of the macula, such as in epimacular membranes, and result in symptoms, such as double vision, aniseikonia or metamorphopsia. These symptoms are also observed following vitreomacular or vitreoretinal surgery, especially after treatment of large retinal detachment involving the macular area using pars plana vitrectomy or scleral buckle surgery but also as a result of vitreomacular interventions, such as membrane peeling in epimacular gliosis. Some patients have preoperatively existing latent conditions, which are not explicitly addressed during routine preoperative diagnostics. For patients and surgeons it is worth noting that these troublesome symptoms are often manifested in patients with good restoration of best corrected visual acuity following vitreomacular surgery. In such cases, patients tend to be dissatisfied with the surgical result despite good visual acuity. Treatment of postoperative metamorphopsia, aniseikonia and double vision is often difficult. In clinical studies, the maximum depth of tractive retinal folds has been described as a reliable morphological biomarker for the occurrence of metamorphopsia in epimacular gliosis. As metamorphopsia tends to postoperatively resolve slowly and even persist in ca. 30% of cases, this biomarker can have an impact on preoperative consulting and postoperative monitoring. Persistent binocular discomfort is often treatable by exact refraction correction and by applying a vertical and, if necessary, a horizontal prism. This often requires patience on the part of both the patient and the physician but is mostly successful due to fusion and adaptability.

Effects of Internal Limiting Membrane Peel for Idiopathic Epiretinal Membrane Surgery: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to compare functional and anatomical outcomes after epiretinal membrane (ERM) peeling with internal limiting membrane (ERM/ILM) peeling and without for the treatment of idiopathic ERM.

DESIGN

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

METHODS

A comprehensive search of Cochrane CENTRAL, MEDLINE Ovid, and Embase Ovid for randomized controlled trials comparing ERM/ILM with ERM was performed. Two independent reviewers selected papers and extracted data. Methodological quality was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias (RobVis) tool. Data was analyzed using RevMan 5.3. Quality of body of evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach.

RESULTS

Seven studies reporting 387 eyes overall were included. A total of 207 eyes (53%) received ERM/ILM. A total of 180 (47%) received ERM. Post-operative visual acuities (logMAR) were not significantly different between ERM/ILM and ERM, with a mean difference (MD) of 0.02 (95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.04 to 0.09; P = .45; I²= 42%; n = 101) at 1 month; 0.03 (95% CI: -0.01 to 0.06; P = .11, I² = 15%; n = 299; High Certainty of Evidence) at 3 months; 0.01 (95% CI: -0.03 to 0.04; P = .72; I² = 21%; n = 317; High Certainty of Evidence) at 6 months; and 0.01 (95% CI: -0.02 to 0.04; P = .49; I² = 39%; n = 234) at 12 months post-operatively. ERM/ILM was significantly associated with lower ERM recurrence at 6-12 months with a relative risk of 0.16 (95% CI: 0.04-0.64; P = .01; I² = 0%; n = 155; Moderate certainty of evidence) and an increased central macular thickness (micrometers) at 12 months with an MD of 20.53 (95% CI: 4.96-36.09; P = .01; I² = 12%; n = 234).

CONCLUSIONS

ERM/ILM and ERM result in similar visual acuity despite subtle differences in anatomical outcomes (central macular thickness). ERM/ILM is associated with a significantly lower rate of ERM recurrence at 6-12 months post-operatively and should be considered where recurrence prevention is the treatment priority.

WITH OR WITHOUT INTERNAL LIMITING MEMBRANE PEELING FOR IDIOPATHIC EPIRETINAL MEMBRANE: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

PURPOSE

To clarify whether internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling provides better outcomes for patients with idiopathic epiretinal membrane.

METHODS

Randomized controlled trials comparing epiretinal membrane removal with and without ILM peeling were searched in Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and CNKI before April 15, 2020. The pooled mean difference (MD) for best-corrected visual acuity, central macular thickness, and odds ratio for recurrence were calculated.

RESULTS

Eight randomized controlled trials involving 422 eyes were included. No significant difference in best-corrected visual acuity (final follow-up: MD, 0.03 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution [1.5 Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study letters]; 95% confidence interval [CI], -0.04 to 0.09 [-4.5 to 2 Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study letters]; P = 0.40) or recurrence rate (odds ratio, 0.21; 95% CI, 0.04-1.05; P = 0.06) between the groups was observed. However, patients with ILM peeling presented thicker central macular thickness at 3 months (MD, 16.36; 95% CI, 1.26-31.46; P = 0.03), 6 months (MD, 22.64; 95% CI, 10.29-34.98; P = 0.0003) and the final follow-up (MD, 25.87; 95% CI, 13.96-37.79; P < 0.0001).

CONCLUSION

The study showed that ILM peeling did not significantly improve the postoperative visual outcome or decrease recurrence, but result in thicker central macular thickness, indicating that it is inessential for idiopathic epiretinal membrane.

[Proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) minimal: same, same but different. Characteristics and surgical treatment of PVR-associated macular pucker]

BACKGROUND

Epiretinal membrane formation resulting in a macular pucker is among the typical complications associated with proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) in retinal detachment and has a major impact on the functional outcome after surgical treatment.

METHODS

A literature search was carried out in PubMed.

RESULTS

Approaches to the surgical treatment of PVR-associated macular pucker include complete membrane removal within the vascular arcades aimed at relieving retinal traction at the posterior pole and peeling of the internal limiting membrane (ILM). As a further option it has been suggested that primary ILM peeling in rhegmatogenous retinal detachment repair may reduce or even prevent postoperative epiretinal membrane formation. In addition, correct timing of surgery is a factor that may contribute to successful treatment.

DISCUSSION

Due to the particularly strong adhesion and the frequent occurrence of concurrent retinal detachment, the surgical approach to PVR-associated macular pucker is particularly challenging. As with idiopathic epiretinal membranes, surgical removal has the potential to improve functional outcomes; however, visual improvement depends largely on whether the macula was involved in the original retinal detachment.

With or without internal limiting membrane peeling during idiopathic epiretinal membrane surgery: A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Although previously published meta-analyses have compared the surgical effects between the methods of Idiopathic epiretinal membrane (iERM) removal with or without ILM peeling, they did not reach an agreement.

PURPOSE

We aimed to provide more evidence for the treatment of iERM and whether additional ILM peeling was better or not by analyzing more updated studies and randomized control trials (RCTs).

METHOD

The search was conducted in Pubmed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science and Open Grey without language limitation and the studies included were from inception to December 2019. All studies of iERM with or without ILM peeling showed at least one of outcomes, such as best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central macular thickness (CMT) and recurrence of ERM. The pooled results between above groups were showed by the mean differences (MDs) and risk ratios (RR) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

RESULT

In total, 1645 eyes of five randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and fifteen retrospective studies were included. The short-term (<12 months) BCVA improvement in both groups showed no significant difference (MD = -0.01; 95% CI = -0.02 to 0.01; P = 0.36). However, the BCVA improvement was significantly better in ILM peeling eyes than in those without ILM peeling when considering the risk bias (MD = -0.04; 95% CI = -0.07 to -0.01; P = 0.008). The short-term (<12 months) CMT had a higher reduction in non ILM peeling group (MD = -9.02; 95% CI = -12.51 to -5.54; P < 0.00001) and the recurrence of ERM in ILM peeling group was lower (P < 0.00001). The long-term (≥12months) BCVA improvement ((MD = -0.00; 95% CI = -0.03 to 0.03; P = 0.97) and reduction of long-term (≥12months) CMT (MD = -1.14; 95% CI = -7.14 to -4.86; P = 0.71) were similar in both groups.

CONCLUSION

By considering the risk of bias, we should determine whether ILM peeling is beneficial for short-term changes in BCVA in patients with iERM. Nevertheless, further studies are needed to confirm this. iERM removal without ILM peeling can improve the short-term decrease in CMT and ILM peeling decreases the recurrence of ERM, but the long-term changes in BCVA and CMT are similar with or without ILM peeling. There is a need for a true large scale randomized trial that will also include microperimetry and other functional measures.

Rates of Reoperation in 10 114 Patients with Epiretinal Membranes Treated by Vitrectomy with or without Inner Limiting Membrane Peeling

PURPOSE

To compare rates of reoperation in patients with idiopathic epiretinal membrane (ERM) who received pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) with or without inner limiting membrane (ILM) peeling and to assess trends in the overall use of ILM peeling over time.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

PARTICIPANTS

Patients included in the IBM Marketscan database between January 1, 2008, and December 31, 2016, who underwent surgery for idiopathic ERM.

METHODS

Procedure claims with laterality codes were used to determine patients with idiopathic ERM who received PPV with or without ILM peel between 2008 and 2016, and to identify cases of reoperation and subsequent retinal detachment within 1 year of index surgery.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The primary outcome was rate of reoperation for recurrent ERM according to whether or not patients receive an ILM peel during their index ERM surgery. We also assessed trends for index ERM surgery (ILM peel or no ILM peel) between 2008 and 2016, and the risk of developing retinal detachment within 1 year of the index ERM surgery.

RESULTS

A total of 10 114 patients received ERM surgery and met inclusion criteria (5310 without ILM peel and 4804 with ILM peel). The reoperation rate was significantly lower among patients who received PPV with ILM peel (0.88%) compared with patients without ILM peel (1.48%; P = 0.007). In 2008, PPV without ILM peel represented 70% of ERM procedures, but PPV with ILM peeling accounted for 52% and 70% of ERM procedures in 2013 (P < 0.001) and 2016 (P < 0.001), respectively. The rates of retinal detachment were similar between patients who received an ILM peel (0.79%) and patients who did not receive an ILM peel (0.92%) during their primary ERM surgery (P = 0.474).

CONCLUSIONS

The increasing use of PPV with ILM peeling to address ERM removal is associated with significantly reduced reoperation rates within 1 year. Future studies are needed to determine the cost-effectiveness of performing an ILM peel for initial idiopathic ERM repairs and evaluate long-term visual and structural changes related to ILM peeling.