Effect of vitrectomy for epiretinal membrane on visual function and vision-related quality of life.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the vision-related quality of life (VR-QOL) in patients undergoing vitrectomy for epiretinal membrane (ERM) removal and to investigate the relationship between VR-QOL and the severity of pre/postoperative metamorphopsia.


METHODS
Prospective, interventional, consecutive, comparative case series.


METHODS
The 25-item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI VFQ-25) was self-administered by 28 patients (age, 66.7 +/- 8.5 years, mean +/- standard deviation) with ERM before and 3 months after vitrectomy. Preoperative and postoperative clinical data were collected, including logarithm of the minimal angle of resolution (logMAR) best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), letter contrast sensitivity, central macular thickness, and severity of metamorphopsia. The NEI VFQ-25 was also measured in 26 age-matched normal controls.


RESULTS
The preoperative NEI VFQ-25 composite score was significantly lower in ERM patients than in normal controls (P < .0001). Vitrectomy significantly improved NEI VFQ-25 composite score as well as scores of 10 out of 12 subscales (P < .0001), except for general health and peripheral vision. The postoperative NEI VFQ-25 composite score in ERM patients, however, remained significantly lower than that in normal controls (P < .0001). The preoperative NEI VFQ-25 composite score significantly correlated with the severity of preoperative metamorphopsia (P < .05) but not with preoperative logMAR BCVA, letter contrast sensitivity, and central macular thickness. The postoperative NEI VFQ-25 composite score significantly correlated with the degree of postoperative metamorphopsia and logMAR BCVA (P < .05). The changes in NEI VFQ-25 composite score significantly correlated with changes in the severity of metamorphopsia (P < .05), but not with other parameters.


CONCLUSIONS
VR-QOL is significantly impaired in patients with ERM, which is remarkably improved by vitrectomy. The severity of metamorphopsia strongly influences VR-QOL in patients with ERM.
Okamoto
Fumiki
F
Department of Ophthalmology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan. Fumiki-o@md.tsukuba.ac.jp
Okamoto
Yoshifumi
Y
Hiraoka
Takahiro
T
Oshika
Tetsuro
T
D000368:Aged; D015350:Contrast Sensitivity / Q000502:physiology; D019773:Epiretinal Membrane / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology*; D014821:Vitrectomy