Correlation between metamorphopsia and epiretinal membrane optical coherence tomography findings.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the retinal morphologic features of metamorphopsia caused by epiretinal membrane (ERM) and to determine whether spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) correlated with metamorphopsia.


METHODS
Retrospective case series.


METHODS
This study included 19 eyes of 19 patients with ERM diagnosed by clinical ophthalmic findings and SD-OCT.


METHODS
The 19 eyes were classified into 3 groups based on Amsler chart results: no metamorphopsia (n = 4), local metamorphopsia (n = 8), and broad metamorphopsia (n = 7). The thickness of the 3 inner retinal layers: inner nuclear layer (INL), outer plexiform layer (OPL), and outer nuclear layer (ONL), on 5 horizontal SD-OCT cross-sections (1 line through the fovea, 2 regularly spaced lines superior to the fovea, and 2 regularly spaced lines inferior to the fovea) were measured using the electronic calipers of the SD-OCT system.


METHODS
Correlation between INL, OPL, and ONL thickness with metamorphopsia and visual acuity.


RESULTS
Metamorphopsia was detected in the same position as edematous areas of the INL with a thickness >50 mum. The maximum INL thickness was relatively significantly different between the subjects with no metamorphopsia and those with local or broad metamorphopsia (vs local, P = 0.06; vs broad, P = 0.04). Visual acuity significantly correlated with both maximum INL thickness (A = -0.681; P = 0.001) and maximum ONL thickness (A = -0.708; P<0.001) in metamorphopsia.


CONCLUSIONS
Metamorphopsia induced by ERM may be related to the edematous areas of the INL detected with SD-OCT. The classification of ERM based on INL thickness is a potentially useful indication for surgery.


BACKGROUND
The authors have no proprietary or commercial interest in any of the materials discussed in this article.
Watanabe
Akinari
A
Nishi Eye Hospital, 4-14-26 Nakamichi, Higashinari, Osaka, Japan. akinari@watanabeeye.net
Arimoto
Sachiko
S
Nishi
Okihiro
O
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019773:Epiretinal Membrane / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008269:Macular Edema / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055351:Retinal Neurons / Q000473:pathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence / Q000379:methods*; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D014787:Vision Tests / Q000295:instrumentation; D014792:Visual Acuity