title: Association of preoperative optical coherence tomography markers with residual inner limiting membrane in epiretinal membrane peeling.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify preoperative markers on spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) for residual inner limiting membrane (ILM) in epiretinal membrane (ERM) peeling.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this retrospective case series the preoperative SD-OCTs from 119 eyes of 119 consecutive patients who underwent surgery for idiopathic ERM by a single surgeon were evaluated for markers predisposing for ILM persistence after ERM removal. ILM persistence was determined via intraoperative indocyanine green staining. The main outcome measures were correlation of central foveal thickness (CFT), ERM thickness, extent of elevated ERM and retinal folding, intraretinal cysts, and discontinuation of the ERM, with ILM persistence after ERM peeling.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The persistence of the ILM was found in 50.4% (n = 60). After Bonferroni correction for multiple testing, a greater extent of elevated ERM and thicker ERMs were associated with persistence of the ILM (p<0.005). The other parameters showed no statistically significant correlations with the persistence of the ILM (p≥0.005).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Residual ILM can be found in nearly half of the eyes after ERM peeling. A loose connection between the ERM and the retinal surface predisposes for ILM persistence. Preoperative SD-OCT is helpful in identifying risk markers for the persistence of the ILM in ERM surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria. gerald.seidel@medunigraz.at
authors.forename: Gerald
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Seidel
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Weger
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Stadlmüller
authors.forename: Tamara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pichler
authors.forename: Anton
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Haas
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019773:Epiretinal Membrane / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012160:Retina / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence / Q000379:methods*