title: Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography evaluation of vitreoretinal adhesions in idiopathic epiretinal membranes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Vitreoretinal adhesions play a key role in the vector forces exerted on the vitreoretinal interface, leading to tractional retina deformation and macular hole formation. The aim of this study was to identify the presence of vitreopapillary and vitreofoveal adhesions in idiopathic epiretinal membranes (ERMs) with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and to evaluate their influence on the vitreoretinal interface.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-five eyes (65 patients) with idiopathic ERM and 64 healthy eyes (64 patients) underwent SD-OCT analysis. We studied vitreopapillary and vitreofoveal adhesion prevalence in eyes with idiopathic ERM using different SD-OCT patterns ("adherent" or "tractional"). We analyzed their influence on central foveal thickness (CFT), on retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness, and on morphological modifications (foveal depression profile and inner/outer photoreceptor junction).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Vitreopapillary adhesion was present in 51.6 % of normal eyes and in 24.6 % of eyes with idiopathic ERM, while vitreofoveal adhesion was found in 14.1 % of normal eyes and in 15.4 % of eyes with ERM. Vitreopapillary adhesion prevalence was significantly higher in the tractional ERM subgroup (p = 0.01), than in the adherent ERM subgroup. Both adhesions had no influence on CFT, RNFL thickness, or inner segment/outer segment junction status.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study suggests that vitreoretinal adhesions may influence the pathogenesis and course of idiopathic ERM. The absence of vitreopapillary adhesion in the adherent type, and its presence in the tractional type, seems to play a key role in ERM characterization.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Vita-Salute University, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Via Olgettina, 60, 20132, Milan, Italy, pierro.luisa@hsr.it.
authors.forename: Luisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pierro
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gagliardi
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Giatsidis
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Iuliano
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Berchicci
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Battaglia Parodi
mesh_terms: D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019773:Epiretinal Membrane / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D033401:Microscopy, Acoustic; D008875:Middle Aged; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000473:pathology; D009887:Ophthalmoscopy; D015995:Prevalence; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells / Q000473:pathology; D000267:Tissue Adhesions / Q000175:diagnosis; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology; D014822:Vitreous Body / Q000473:pathology*