Correlation between retinal sensitivity assessed by microperimetry and structural abnormalities on optical coherence tomography after successful epiretinal membrane surgery

• Published in: International journal of retina and vitreous Vol. 10; no. 1; p. 24
• Main Authors: Matos, Aline Mota Freitas, Defina, Raphael Lucas Sampaio, Costa-Cunha, Luciana Virgínia Ferreira, Zacharias, Leandro Cabral, Preti, Rony Carlos, Monteiro, Mário Luiz Ribeiro, Cunha, Leonardo Provetti
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central 29-02-2024; BMC
• Subjects: Disorganization of the retinal inner layers/DRIL; Dissociated optic nerve fiber layer/DONFL; Epiretinal membrane; Macula; Microcysts; Microperimeter/microperimetry; Optics; Patients; Retina; Surgery; Tomography; Topography; Macula; Microcysts; Dissociated optic nerve fiber layer/DONFL; Epiretinal membrane; Optical coherence tomography; Outer retinal changes; Pars-plana posterior vitrectomy; Retina; Microperimeter/microperimetry; Disorganization of the retinal inner layers/DRIL
• ISSN: 2056-9920; 2056-9920
• DOI: 10.1186/s40942-024-00542-8

To verify the correlation between retinal sensitivity (RS) assessed by the microperimetry (MP) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) parameters measured in eyes submitted to pars-plana vitrectomy (PPV) for idiopathic epiretinal membrane (ERM) treatment.
43 patients underwent PPV. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and OCT imaging were acquired preoperatively and 6 months after surgery. The RS values were recorded 6 months after the surgery. Total macular thickness (TMT) measurements and OCT-evaluated structural findings were also analyzed. The MP examination tested 44 points, with direct topographic correspondence with the OCT-ETDRS map. Correlations between BCVA, RS, and OCT parameters were assessed.
TMT measurements in patients were significantly thicker preoperatively and reduced after surgery. All patients demonstrated BCVA improvements after surgery. The RS parameters after surgery were significantly lower in patients. For OCT structural analyses, patients with lower RS at the fovea correlated with the preexisting disorganization of retinal inner layers (DRIL). In addition, lower RS values were associated with DRIL, outer retinal changes (ORC), and intraretinal microcysts after surgery.
The RS values after surgery were significantly lower when compared to controls. The DRIL presence before and after surgery, and microcysts and ORC after surgery were related to worse visual outcomes.