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Study: Epiretinal membrane removal improved VA following detachment repair

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Removing the epiretinal membrane after retinal re-attachment surgery improved visual acuity and had no serious sequelae, according to a study.

To examine the visual outcomes of the procedure, Matthew D. Council, MD, and colleagues reviewed the records of 75 patients who underwent surgery for the removal of an epiretinal membrane after retinal detachment repair over a 10-year period. The mean follow-up time was 49 months.

Sixty-six patients (88%) had a postoperative visual acuity better than their preop VA at final follow-up; 65.3% achieved a final VA of 20/60 or better.

“Epiretinal membrane development is a known complication of [retinal detachment] repair. Visual acuity can be improved in these patients by removal of the epiretinal membrane, with excellent results,” the researchers said.

Five eyes experienced a recurrent retinal detachment after removal of the epiretinal membrane, and 16 eyes developed a recurrent epiretinal membrane, one of which was visually significant enough to require repeat surgery. Almost 80% of the eye required cataract surgery before final follow-up.

The study is published in the July issue of Ophthalmology.