title: PARS PLANA VITRECTOMY FOR SYMPTOMATIC EPIRETINAL MEMBRANES IN EYES WITH 20/50 OR BETTER PREOPERATIVE VISUAL ACUITY.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate pars plana vitrectomy with membrane peel for symptomatic epiretinal membranes in eyes with preoperative best-corrected visual acuity of 20/50 or better.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with symptomatic epiretinal membrane and 20/50 or better vision who underwent pars plana vitrectomy with membrane peel by a single surgeon at our institution between January 2007 and January 2014 were identified. The principal outcomes measured were best-corrected visual acuity and central subfield macular thickness at 1, 6, and 12 months of follow-up. Subjective improvement in patient symptoms and complications were also documented.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-three eyes of 33 consecutive patients were included in this retrospective case series. Mean preoperative best-corrected visual acuity was 20/40 and improved to 20/28 (P = 0.00008) at Month 12. Mean central subfield macular thickness improved from 437 μm preoperatively to 391 μm by Month 1 (P = 0.00006) and 388 μm at 12 months (P = 0.00142). Seventy-three percent (24 of 33) of patients (95% confidence interval: 55.6-85.1%) reported improvement of visual symptoms during the follow-up period. Of the 13 patients who were phakic preoperatively, 6 patients (46.1%, 95% confidence interval: 23.2-70.9%) underwent phacoemulsification surgery within 1 year of vitrectomy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients experienced a gradual gain in acuity and improvement of symptoms after pars plana vitrectomy with membrane peel. Cataract progression necessitating cataract surgery is common in phakic patients.
authors: Cullen Eye Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.
authors: Brian P
authors: BP
authors: Lehpamer
authors: Petros E
authors: PE
authors: Carvounis
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002386:Cataract / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D019773:Epiretinal Membrane / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018918:Phacoemulsification; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D057234:Preoperative Period; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology*; D014821:Vitrectomy; D014822:Vitreous Body / Q000601:surgery*