The impact of epiretinal membrane stage and postoperative treatment on visual and anatomical outcomes following vitrectomy in eyes with preexisting macular edema

Abstract Backround Idiopathic epiretinal membrane (iERM) is often associated with different types of macular edema (ME). This study aimed to evaluate the impact of iERM stage and postoperative treatment on visual and anatomical outcomes after pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) with peeling in eyes with iER...

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Main Authors: Efstathios Vounotrypidis, Julie Meyer, Denise Vogt, Christian Wertheimer, Tina Herold, Siegfried Priglinger, Armin Wolf
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-07-01
Series:International Journal of Retina and Vitreous
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s40942-025-00697-y
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author Efstathios Vounotrypidis
Julie Meyer
Denise Vogt
Christian Wertheimer
Tina Herold
Siegfried Priglinger
Armin Wolf
author_facet Efstathios Vounotrypidis
Julie Meyer
Denise Vogt
Christian Wertheimer
Tina Herold
Siegfried Priglinger
Armin Wolf
author_sort Efstathios Vounotrypidis
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Backround Idiopathic epiretinal membrane (iERM) is often associated with different types of macular edema (ME). This study aimed to evaluate the impact of iERM stage and postoperative treatment on visual and anatomical outcomes after pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) with peeling in eyes with iERM and treatment-naïve pre-existing ME. Methods This retrospective analysis included eyes with iERM and different preexisting ME (microcystic = MME, cystoid = CME or combined ME) that underwent PPV with iERM and ILM-peeling and were followed for 12 months. Various OCT parameters, including central foveal thickness (CRT), outer nuclear layer (ONL) thickness, ectopic inner foveal layer (EIFL) thickness, presence of subretinal fluid, ellipsoid zone defects and central bouquet abnormalities were evaluated for their correlation with visual outcomes. Standard escalating postoperative treatment was steroids, adjuvant non-steroidal anti-inflammatory eye drops, adjuvant parabulbous injection (40 mg triamcinolone), intravitreal injection of long-lasting dexamethasone implant. Results Fifty eyes of 50 patients with iERM (stages 2–4) and MME (n = 20), CME (n = 15) or combined ME (n = 15) were included. Baseline BCVA was better in lower iERM stages (p = 0.011), showed no significant differences at 12 months (p = 0.379) and depended on underlying ME (p < 0.001). Worse final BCVA was associated with older age (Odds ratio [OR], 1.292; p = 0.001), need for treatment with intravitreal injection according to the standard escalating treatment schema (OR: 1.230; p = 0.007), preoperative EIFL > 100 μm (OR: 1.305; p < 0.001) and preoperative CRT < 450 μm (OR: 1.164; p = 0.048). Conclusions Baseline BCVA varied depending on pre-existing ME and iERM stage. Final BCVA was similar across all iERM stages but poorer in eyes with combined ME. Older age, preoperative EIFL > 100 μm, and need for treatment with intravitreal injection were associated with worse final BCVA. Trial registration The study was approved by the Institutional Review Board and the Ethics Committee of the Ludwig-Maximilian-University, Munich (Ethics Votum: 19/624) and adhered to the tenets of the Declaration of Helsinki.
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spelling doaj-art-fb6d830ee9e94819971abb75d8e5ef1b2025-08-20T03:45:36ZengBMCInternational Journal of Retina and Vitreous2056-99202025-07-0111111210.1186/s40942-025-00697-yThe impact of epiretinal membrane stage and postoperative treatment on visual and anatomical outcomes following vitrectomy in eyes with preexisting macular edemaEfstathios Vounotrypidis0Julie Meyer1Denise Vogt2Christian Wertheimer3Tina Herold4Siegfried Priglinger5Armin Wolf6Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital UlmDepartment of Ophthalmology, University Hospital UlmDepartment of Ophthalmology, University Hospital UlmDepartment of Ophthalmology, University Hospital UlmDepartment of Ophthalmology, LMU University Hospital, LMU MunichDepartment of Ophthalmology, LMU University Hospital, LMU MunichDepartment of Ophthalmology, University Hospital UlmAbstract Backround Idiopathic epiretinal membrane (iERM) is often associated with different types of macular edema (ME). This study aimed to evaluate the impact of iERM stage and postoperative treatment on visual and anatomical outcomes after pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) with peeling in eyes with iERM and treatment-naïve pre-existing ME. Methods This retrospective analysis included eyes with iERM and different preexisting ME (microcystic = MME, cystoid = CME or combined ME) that underwent PPV with iERM and ILM-peeling and were followed for 12 months. Various OCT parameters, including central foveal thickness (CRT), outer nuclear layer (ONL) thickness, ectopic inner foveal layer (EIFL) thickness, presence of subretinal fluid, ellipsoid zone defects and central bouquet abnormalities were evaluated for their correlation with visual outcomes. Standard escalating postoperative treatment was steroids, adjuvant non-steroidal anti-inflammatory eye drops, adjuvant parabulbous injection (40 mg triamcinolone), intravitreal injection of long-lasting dexamethasone implant. Results Fifty eyes of 50 patients with iERM (stages 2–4) and MME (n = 20), CME (n = 15) or combined ME (n = 15) were included. Baseline BCVA was better in lower iERM stages (p = 0.011), showed no significant differences at 12 months (p = 0.379) and depended on underlying ME (p < 0.001). Worse final BCVA was associated with older age (Odds ratio [OR], 1.292; p = 0.001), need for treatment with intravitreal injection according to the standard escalating treatment schema (OR: 1.230; p = 0.007), preoperative EIFL > 100 μm (OR: 1.305; p < 0.001) and preoperative CRT < 450 μm (OR: 1.164; p = 0.048). Conclusions Baseline BCVA varied depending on pre-existing ME and iERM stage. Final BCVA was similar across all iERM stages but poorer in eyes with combined ME. Older age, preoperative EIFL > 100 μm, and need for treatment with intravitreal injection were associated with worse final BCVA. Trial registration The study was approved by the Institutional Review Board and the Ethics Committee of the Ludwig-Maximilian-University, Munich (Ethics Votum: 19/624) and adhered to the tenets of the Declaration of Helsinki.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40942-025-00697-yEpiretinal membraneVitrectomyVisual outcomeMicrocystic macular edemaCystoid macular edemaOCT
spellingShingle Efstathios Vounotrypidis
Julie Meyer
Denise Vogt
Christian Wertheimer
Tina Herold
Siegfried Priglinger
Armin Wolf
The impact of epiretinal membrane stage and postoperative treatment on visual and anatomical outcomes following vitrectomy in eyes with preexisting macular edema
International Journal of Retina and Vitreous
Epiretinal membrane
Vitrectomy
Visual outcome
Microcystic macular edema
Cystoid macular edema
OCT
title The impact of epiretinal membrane stage and postoperative treatment on visual and anatomical outcomes following vitrectomy in eyes with preexisting macular edema
title_full The impact of epiretinal membrane stage and postoperative treatment on visual and anatomical outcomes following vitrectomy in eyes with preexisting macular edema
title_fullStr The impact of epiretinal membrane stage and postoperative treatment on visual and anatomical outcomes following vitrectomy in eyes with preexisting macular edema
title_full_unstemmed The impact of epiretinal membrane stage and postoperative treatment on visual and anatomical outcomes following vitrectomy in eyes with preexisting macular edema
title_short The impact of epiretinal membrane stage and postoperative treatment on visual and anatomical outcomes following vitrectomy in eyes with preexisting macular edema
title_sort impact of epiretinal membrane stage and postoperative treatment on visual and anatomical outcomes following vitrectomy in eyes with preexisting macular edema
topic Epiretinal membrane
Vitrectomy
Visual outcome
Microcystic macular edema
Cystoid macular edema
OCT
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s40942-025-00697-y
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