Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2025 Jul 1;14(7):24.
doi: 10.1167/tvst.14.7.24.

Visual Function in Patients With Idiopathic Epiretinal Membrane Surgery: Evaluated by Microperimetry

Haiyue Xu  1 , Yu Wang  1 , Bo Zou  1 , Meilin Liu  1 , Chunmeng Dai  1 , Xiaoxia Ding  1
Affiliations

Visual Function in Patients With Idiopathic Epiretinal Membrane Surgery: Evaluated by Microperimetry

Haiyue Xu et al. Transl Vis Sci Technol. .

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate changes in visual function following surgery and identify predictors of postoperative visual function in patients with idiopathic epiretinal membrane (iERM).

Methods: This retrospective study included 37 eyes with iERM. Macular structure was assessed using optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography (OCTA), whereas visual function was evaluated using best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and microperimetry. All parameters were measured preoperatively (baseline) and at 3 and 6 months postoperatively. Associations between macular structural parameters and visual function outcomes were analyzed.

Results: Central retinal thickness (CRT) decreased significantly at both 3 and 6 months postoperatively. Parafoveal vessel density (PFVD) of the deep capillary plexus (DCP) and BCVA improved significantly at 3 months, with no significant changes observed between 3 and 6 months. Retinal sensitivity (RS) and fixation stability (FS) demonstrated significant improvement at 6 months, whereas macular integrity (MI) showed no significant postoperative changes. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that baseline PFVD of the DCP was a significant predictor of postoperative BCVA. Logistic regression analysis identified baseline PFVD of the DCP as an independent predictor of postoperative FS improvement.

Conclusions: BCVA, RS, and FS improve significantly following iERM surgery, with BCVA improving earlier than microperimetry parameters. A higher baseline PFVD of the DCP is a significant prognostic factor for better BCVA and FS improvement.

Translational relevance: Microperimetry offers an objective and quantitative evaluation of macular functional changes after iERM surgery. PFVD of the DCP, as measured by OCTA, can serve as a valuable predictor of BCVA and FS outcomes postoperatively.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure: H. Xu, None; Y. Wang, None; B. Zou, None; M. Liu, None; C. Dai, None; X. Ding, None

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
MAIA microperimetry report of a 62-year-old iERM patient at baseline and 3 months postoperatively. Preoperative parameters (A): average threshold: 22.2 dB; macular integrity: 99.6; fixation stability: relatively unstable (P1 = 66%, P2 = 85%); BECA: 63% = 7.5 degrees2, 95% = 22.4 degrees2. Postoperative parameters (B): average threshold: 23.9 dB; macular integrity: 73.4; fixation stability: stable (P1 = 86%, P2 = 96%); BECA: 63% = 2.3 degrees2, 95% = 7.0 degrees2.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Fixation stability in iERM eyes at baseline and postoperatively. Fixation stability distribution at baseline and postoperatively (χ2 = 10.667, P = 0.002) (A). Fixation stability changes after surgery (B). Asterisks indicate P < 0.05.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Meuer SM, Myers CE, Klein BE, et al.. The epidemiology of vitreoretinal interface abnormalities as detected by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography: the beaver dam eye study. Ophthalmology. 2015; 122(4): 787–795. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Kim GH, Hwang BE, Chun H, et al.. Morphologic analysis of the foveal avascular zone for prediction of postoperative visual acuity in advanced idiopathic epiretinal membrane. Sci Rep. 2023; 13(1): 10400. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Mao J, Xu Z, Lao J, et al.. Assessment of macular microvasculature features before and after vitrectomy in the idiopathic macular epiretinal membrane using a grading system: an optical coherence tomography angiography study. Acta Ophthalmol. 2021; 99(7): e1168–e1175. - PubMed
    1. Mao J, Lao J, Liu C, et al.. A study analyzing macular microvasculature features after vitrectomy using OCT angiography in patients with idiopathic macular epiretinal membrane. BMC Ophthalmol. 2020; 20(1): 165. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Isik-Ericek P, Sizmaz S, Esen E, Demircan N. The effect of epiretinal membrane surgery on macular microvasculature: an optical coherence tomography angiography study. Int Ophthalmol. 2021; 41(3): 777–786. - PubMed