title: Morphological and Functional Retinal Assessment in Epiretinal Membrane Surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze functional and morphological findings after surgery for idiopathic epiretinal macular membrane (IEMM).
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty eyes of 20 patients affected by IEMM underwent 23-Gauge surgery. Morphological and functional examinations were assessed at baseline and at 30, 90, and 180 days after surgery. SD-OCT evaluated foveal morphology and thickness, photoreceptor inner/outer segment junction, and external limiting membrane. Functional assessment evaluated visual acuity, retinal sensitivity, and fixation patterns. Statistical analysis was performed with the Student's t test and Pearson correlation test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean central retinal thickness (CRT), visual acuity (VA), and retinal sensitivity (RS) at baseline were respectively 494.90 ± 38.73 µm, 0.55 ± 0.08 LogMAR, and 11.13±1.02; after surgery, at day 180, we observed a significant decrease in mean CRT to 326.90±32.68 µm, an increase in mean VA to 0.33 ± 0.05 LogMAR (p < 0.05), and in mean RS to 13.25 ± 0.73 dB (p < 0.05). A stable fixation increased from 40% of patients at baseline to 75% of patients at day 180 (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IEMM surgery results in continuous improvement in visual function, not only at month one but also beyond month six, due to the progressive reduction of residual intraretinal edema and recomposition of retinal layers.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Surgical and Morphological Sciences , University of Insurbia-Circolo Hospital , Varese , Italy.
authors.forename: Simone
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6920-7021
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Donati
authors.affiliation: a Department of Surgical and Morphological Sciences , University of Insurbia-Circolo Hospital , Varese , Italy.
authors.forename: Simona Maria
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Caprani
authors.affiliation: b Eye Clinic, Department of Neurological and Vision Sciences , University of Brescia , Brescia , Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Semeraro
authors.affiliation: a Department of Surgical and Morphological Sciences , University of Insurbia-Circolo Hospital , Varese , Italy.
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vinciguerra
authors.affiliation: c Eye Clinic, Department of Translational Surgery and Medicine , University of Florence , Florence , Italy.
authors.forename: Gianni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Virgili
authors.affiliation: d Eye Clinic, Multidisciplinary Department of Medical, Surgical and Dental Sciences , Second University of Naples , Naples , Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Testa
authors.affiliation: d Eye Clinic, Multidisciplinary Department of Medical, Surgical and Dental Sciences , Second University of Naples , Naples , Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8520-6769
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Simonelli
authors.affiliation: a Department of Surgical and Morphological Sciences , University of Insurbia-Circolo Hospital , Varese , Italy.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Azzolini
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001485:Basement Membrane / Q000473:pathology; D019773:Epiretinal Membrane / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005403:Fixation, Ocular / Q000502:physiology; D005584:Fovea Centralis / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008269:Macular Edema / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020419:Photoreceptor Cells, Vertebrate / Q000473:pathology; D012160:Retina / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology; D014821:Vitrectomy / Q000379:methods
keywords: Idiopathic epiretinal macular membrane; macular edema; macular surgery; optical coherence tomography; retinal sensitivity; visual acuity