The clinical course of patients with idiopathic epiretinal membranes and good visual acuity managed without surgery

Abstract

Background/aims: To report the clinical course of patients with idiopathic epiretinal membranes (iERMs) and good baseline best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) managed with-out surgical treatment. Methods: Retrospective, observational case series of patients with iERMs and 20/50 or better BCVA who did not undergo surgery between January 2014 and December 2017 with a 1-year follow-up. Secondary epiretinal membranes were excluded. iERMs were stratified into two groups: Group I (BCVA 20/30 or better) and Group II (BCVA 20/40 to 20/50). The main outcome measures included baseline and final follow-up BCVA, central macular thickness (CMT) on OCT. Results: The study included 174 eyes (145 patients): 139 eyes (79.8%) had typical iERMs and 35 eyes (18%) had LMH. For Group I typical iERMs, the logMAR baseline and final mean BCVAwere 0.09 ± 0.1 (Snellen equivalent 20/25) and 0.10 ± 0.1 (20/25+) respectively (p = 0.22). In this group, the baseline and final mean CMT were 335 ± 73µm and 342 ± 78µm, respectively (p = 0.47). For Group II typical iERMs, the logMAR baseline and final mean BCVA were 0.3 ± 0.1 (20/44) and 0.4 ± 0.2 (20/45) respectively (p = 0.31). In this group, the baseline and final mean CMT were 386 ± 95µm and 391 ± 93µm, respectively (p = 0.84). Conclusion: The clinical course of patients with iERM and good baseline BCVA is generally favorable without surgery and includes stable BCVA and OCT measurements after at least one year.