[Preoperative assessment of topographic features in macular pucker using high-definition optical coherence tomography]

Abstract

Background: To date, the surgical plan for the removal of epiretinal membranes is mainly adapted to the intraoperative situation. In the current study, we sought to investigate whether the surgical removal of macular pucker can be facilitated by the preoperative assessment of topographic features using high-definition optical coherence tomography (HD-OCT).

Patients and methods: In a consecutive case series, 20 eyes of 20 patients with macular pucker underwent full ophthalmological evaluation including high-definition optical coherence tomography (Cirrus, Carl Zeiss Meditec) prior to a three-port-pars plana vitrectomy with peel of the epiretinal membrane (ERM). Furthermore, we documented the intraoperative course.

Results: Thirteen eyes (65 %) exhibited multiple foci of retinal contraction as detected by HD-OCT. In these eyes, surgical removal of the ERM was facilitated by using HD-OCT images. In contrast, eyes with flat membranes showed a strong adhesion to the retinal surface.

Conclusion: Our findings suggest that preoperative assessment of topographic features using high-definition optical coherence tomography has the potential to improve surgical strategies in eyes with macular pucker.