Changes of Optical Coherence Tomography Biomarkers after Peeling of Epiretinal Membranes

Introduction: Several optical coherence tomography (OCT) biomarkers for postsurgical success among patients with idiopathic epiretinal membranes (iERM) undergoing pars plana vitrectomy and membrane peeling have been described in the past. The aim of this study was to examine the remission of OCT biomarkers in patients with iERM after pars plana vitrectomy with membrane peeling three months and one year after surgery. Methods: This prospective study included patients scheduled for pars plana vitrectomy with membrane peeling for iERM. The postoperative remission of presurgical OCT biomarkers was analysed from OCTs at predefined time points (three months, one year) after surgery and correlated with visual acuity. Results: Among 75 patients included, remission of pre-surgically present OCT biomarkers was observed in 87.5% of eyes with disorganization of retinal inner layers (DRIL), in 82.4% with cotton ball sign, in 70.4% with intraretinal cystoid changes, in 57.1% with hyperreflective foci, in 51.2% with ectopic inner foveal layer (EIFL), and in all eyes with defects of the ellipsoid zone. Central macular thickness (CMT) showed a significant reduction after surgery (p<0.001 and p=0.019) and was the only significant predictor for development of distance corrected visual acuity (DCVA) one year after surgery (p<0.001). Conclusion: CMT was the only significant predictor for development of DCVA one year after surgery. Remission rates of most of the other OCT biomarkers were high, but did not significantly influence postsurgical DCVA.