Surgery for idiopathic and secondary epiretinal membranes:: visual outcome and complications

Purpose: To evaluate visual outcome after epiretinal membrane surgery. Material and method: Retrospective study of 50 consecutive epiretinal membranes (ERM) (23 idiopathic and 27 secondary) with 12 to 42-month follow-up (mean 24 months). Functional evaluations were performed before and after surgery according to the idiopathic or secondary nature of the epiretinal membranes. Results: For idiopathic ERM. vision improved by more than two lines in 43% of the eyes (33% after ERM surgery alone and 55% after ERM followed by cataract surgery) with final visual acuity of 4/10 for 66% of the patients (58% and 82% respectively); there was visual degradation for the two ERM on highly myopic eyes. For the secondary ERM, vision improved by more than 2 lines for 41% of the eyes and final visual acuity of 4/10 for 33% of the patients; visual degradation for almost ail ERM secondary to uveitis was associated with preoperative cystoid macular edema. Conclusion: After surgery for idiopathic or secondary ERM, visual acuity is good with the exception of the idiopathic ERM on highly myopic eyes and of the uveitic ERM with preoperative cystoid macular edema. Progression of cataract often perturbs visual outcome analysis.