title: Comparison of macular findings due to vitreomacular traction alone or in association with epiretinal membrane.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the anatomical and functional findings in patients with vitreomacular traction (VMT) alone or in combination with epiretinal membrane (ERM).
  
  
  METHODS
  In this retrospective, cross-sectional study, we studied 102 patients with VMT, either alone (n = 37) or combined with ERM (n = 65). All patients were examined with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). We recorded the vitreofoveal angle of VMT nasally and temporally, the horizontal diameter of VMT, macular thickness, the presence, type, and location of macular edema, the ellipsoid zone (ΕΖ)/external limiting membrane (ELM) status, and the visual acuity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients with VMT combined with ERM presented smaller vitreofoveal angle nasally and temporally, broader adhesion diameter, and a greater extent of EZ defect compared to patients with VMT alone, although there was no statistically significant difference in EZ and ELM condition regarding the number of affected cases. There is also no statistically significant difference between the 2 groups concerning the visual acuity. In the majority of patients with VMT alone, cystoid macular edema was present mainly at the foveal area. In cases where VMT coexisted with ERM, macular edema was mostly found to be diffuse, while cystoid or mixed type, extending to the whole macular area, was also present.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with VMT in association with ERM have different characteristics in SD-OCT compared to those with VMT alone regarding the type and location of macular edema, the extent of EZ defect, as well as the vitreofoveal angle and the VMT diameter. Moreover, they presented worse visual acuity compared to those with VMT alone, although the difference did not reach statistical significance.
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Ophthalmology, University of Athens, Attikon Hospital, Athens - Greece.
authors.forename: Irini
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Chatziralli
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Ophthalmology, Henry Dunant Hospital, Athens - Greece.
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Theodossiadis
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Ophthalmology, Henry Dunant Hospital, Athens - Greece.
authors.forename: Vlassis
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Grigoropoulos
authors.affiliation: OMMA Ophthalmological Institute, Athens - Greece.
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Datseris
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Ophthalmology, University of Athens, Attikon Hospital, Athens - Greece.
authors.forename: Alexandros
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chatzirallis
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Ophthalmology, University of Athens, Attikon Hospital, Athens - Greece.
authors.forename: Panagiotis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Theodossiadis
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019773:Epiretinal Membrane / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008269:Macular Edema / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000267:Tissue Adhesions; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence / Q000379:methods; D014792:Visual Acuity; D014822:Vitreous Body / Q000473:pathology; D020255:Vitreous Detachment / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology