Idiopathic epiretinal macular membrane and cataract extraction: combined versus consecutive surgery.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the functional and anatomic outcomes of cataract and idiopathic epiretinal macular membrane extraction in combined and consecutive surgeries.


METHODS
Multicenter, retrospective, comparative case series.


METHODS
One hundred seventy-four patients (174 eyes) with an epiretinal macular membrane (ERM) and cataract were operated on in 1 or 2 sessions in 2 academic centers, Dijon University Hospital and Nancy University Hospital. Combined surgery (n = 109) and consecutive surgery (n = 65) were performed between 2005 and 2006. All patients underwent ERM and internal limiting membrane removal. Cataract extraction was performed with phacoemulsification followed by a posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation. The main outcome measures were near and far visual acuity and central macular thickness evaluated with optical coherence tomography.


RESULTS
After a 12-month follow-up, the postoperative best-corrected visual acuities significantly improved in both the combined and the consecutive surgery groups (near and far vision in both groups, P < .0001). Similarly, the postoperative macular thickness significantly decreased in both groups (P < .0001). We noted no statistical differences between the visual acuity improvement in both groups (near vision, P= .54; far vision, P = .38). However, visual acuity recovery was quicker in the combined surgery group.


CONCLUSIONS
Combined and consecutive surgeries are effective procedures to treat idiopathic ERM. The functional and anatomic results are equivalent in both procedures.
Dugas
Brice
B
Department of Ophthalmology University Hospital, Rue du Faubourg Raines, Dijon, France.
Ouled-Moussa
Rym
R
Lafontaine
Pierre-Olivier
PO
Guillaubey
Alexandre
A
Berrod
Jean-Paul
JP
Hubert
Isabelle
I
Bron
Alain M
AM
Creuzot-Garcher
Catherine P
CP
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001485:Basement Membrane / Q000601:surgery*; D002386:Cataract / Q000209:etiology; D019773:Epiretinal Membrane / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D019654:Lens Implantation, Intraocular; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018918:Phacoemulsification; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology; D014821:Vitrectomy