Relation of anatomy with function following the surgical treatment of idiopathic epiretinal membrane: a multicenter retrospective study

Purpose To investigate the prognostic factors associated with functional and anatomical outcomes and to assess the longitudinal course of visual acuity and retinal morphology after vitreoretinal surgery for idiopathic epiretinal membrane (ERM). Methods This multicenter, retrospective study included a total of 634 eyes who underwent surgery for idiopathic ERM in 22 academic centers nationwide in Turkey. Data on best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and optical coherence tomography features (central foveal thickness (CFT), ERM and foveal contour morphology, ellipsoid zone (EZ) integrity) were collected and compared at baseline, 6-month, 12-month, and 24-month follow-ups. Prognostic factors for functional (having ≥ 20/25 Snellen BCVA) and anatomical (having normal/shallow foveal contour) recoveries after surgery were investigated by means of multivariate regression analyses. A cutoff value of preoperative BCVA optimizing functional recovery was calculated using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. Results At a median follow-up of 24 months, 37.4% of the eyes achieved ≥ 20/25 BCVA and 54% regained normal or shallow foveal contour. Functional recovery was more likely in eyes with better baseline BCVA and intact EZ ( R 2 = 0.356, p