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Retinal vessel movement may rise with BCVA decline in epiretinal membrane
Retinal vessel movement associated with epiretinal membrane is measurable and correlates to a worsening best corrected visual acuity, according to a study.
Thr retrospective, comparative case series included 206 eyes of 113 patients: 142 eyes with epiretinal membrane and 64 healthy fellow eyes.
Fundus images were divided into five equal parts horizontally and vertically, and retinal vessel movement was measured in the nine central squares.
The analysis showed significantly greater retinal tangential movement (RTM) in eyes with epiretinal membrane compared to healthy eyes (P < .001). Data also showed a correlation between increased RTM and a reduction in BCVA (P = .024), as well as a correlation with an increase in central macular thickness (P < .001).
A significant correlation also existed between RTM and the amount of time in between examinations (P < .001).
“We hypothesized that RTM played a significant role in progression of disease as the [epiretinal membrane] convolutes the neurosensitive tissue. This was most evident in patients with worsening of symptoms in whom excessive RTM was present in the absence of increased central macular thickness or decreased BCVA,” the study authors said.