Vitrectomy with membrane peeling for vasocentric idiopathic epiretinal membranes.
OBJECTIVE
To report the clinical course and outcome of surgery for idiopathic epiretinal membranes (ERMs) centered on retinal blood vessels.


METHODS
Retrospective observational case series review of the case records of 15 patients with idiopathic ERMs overlying retinal blood vessels, of whom 9 underwent vitrectomy with membrane peeling. The patients attended two eye departments under the care of four vitreoretinal surgeons with a total of more than 50 years of surgical experience.


RESULTS
The patients were aged 12-74 years (mean = 34.3 years). Difficulties were experienced in achieving vitreoretinal and membranoretinal separation in the 9 eyes undergoing vitreous microsurgery. Recurrent ERM formation occurred in 8 of these eyes (89%) of which 6 underwent revision vitrectomy. Visual improvement was achieved in 55% of patients. Mean follow-up was 2.5 years.


CONCLUSIONS
The authors describe a subgroup of patients with idiopathic ERMs in which the membrane is centered over a large retinal vessel. This occurs predominantly but not exclusively in a young age group. Surgical removal is characterized by a high recurrence rate.
Habib
Maged S
MS
Sunderland Eye Infirmary, Tyne and Wear, UK.
Steel
David H
DH
Ling
Roland
R
James
Charles
C
Fetherston
Timothy J
TJ
McLeod
David
D
Inglesby
David V
DV
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D019773:Epiretinal Membrane / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000601:surgery*; D012008:Recurrence; D012171:Retinal Vessels / Q000473:pathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity; D014821:Vitrectomy / Q000379:methods*