Inner Retinal Morphology and Visual Outcomes in Idiopathic Epiretinal Membrane Surgery: A Retrospective Optical Coherence Tomography Study

Abstract

Purpose: Epiretinal membrane (ERM) is a common retinal finding for patients older than 50 years. Disorganization of the retinal inner layers (DRIL) has emerged as a novel predictor of poor visual acuity (VA) in eyes with inner retinal pathology. The aim of our study is to correlate preoperative DRIL with visual outcomes after ERM surgery. Methods: Medical records and optical coherence tomography (OCT) images of 81 pseudophakic patients who underwent treatment of idiopathic ERM were reviewed. Preoperative DRIL on OCT was correlated with VA at baseline and at 3 and 6 months after ERM surgery. DRIL was defined as the loss of distinction between the ganglion cell–inner plexiform layer complex, inner nuclear layer, and outer plexiform layer. DRIL severity was based on its extent within the central 2-mm region of a transfoveal B-scan (absent/mild: <one-third, severe: >one-third horizontal width). Results: Review of preoperative OCT showed severe DRIL in 41% and absent/mild DRIL in 59%. Severe DRIL was associated with worse baseline VA ( P < .001). Preoperative VA and DRIL status at baseline were both predictors of postoperative VA at follow-up time points ( P < .001). Severe DRIL was associated with significantly less improvement in VA at 6 months (–0.23 logMAR for absent/mild vs –0.14 for severe DRIL). Conclusions: Presence of severe preoperative DRIL correlates with worse baseline VA in patients with ERM and reduced VA improvement at 6 months. DRIL can be a strong predictor of long-term poor visual outcomes in ERM surgery.