title: Idiopathic and secondary epiretinal membranes: do they differ in terms of morphology? An optical coherence tomography-based study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to define the morphologic differences in idiopathic and secondary epiretinal membranes (ERMs) using a time domain optical coherence tomography.
  
  
  METHODS
  The medical records and optical coherence tomography images of 293 eyes of 236 consecutive patients diagnosed to have ERM were evaluated retrospectively. Demographic features, best-corrected visual acuities, central macular thickness, membrane attachment patterns, macular changes, and the presence of posterior retinal detachment at the time of diagnosis were compared between the groups (idiopathic group, n = 125 eyes; secondary group, n = 168 eyes).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age was higher among idiopathic ERMs (67 ± 9 vs. 62 ± 10 years, P = 0.001). In the secondary group, best-corrected visual acuity was estimated to be worse (P < 0.001) and central macular thickness higher (P = 0.02) than the idiopathic group. In both groups, ERMs were mostly diagnosed at Grade 1 level. Diffuse attachment was more common in both of the groups. Among macular changes, only cystoid macular degeneration differed significantly between the groups (P = 0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Idiopathic and secondary ERMs were estimated to differ significantly at the time of diagnosis in terms of age, visual acuities, macular thickness, presence of cystoid macular degeneration, and posterior vitreous detachment. These parameters may assist the retinal surgeon in the treatment process of ERM.
authors.affiliation: Beyoğlu Eye Training and Research Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey. ahmettaylan19@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Ahmet T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Yazici
authors.forename: Neşe
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Alagöz
authors.forename: Haci U
authors.initials: HU
authors.lastname: Celik
authors.forename: Ercüment
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bozkurt
authors.forename: Cengiz
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Alagöz
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cakir
authors.forename: Osman
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Cekiç
authors.forename: Omer F
authors.initials: OF
authors.lastname: Yilmaz
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D019773:Epiretinal Membrane / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008266:Macula Lutea / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012163:Retinal Detachment / Q000175:diagnosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology