title: Preoperative optical coherence tomography visualization of epiretinal membranes enhances surgical strategies.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of preoperative optical coherence tomography (OCT) findings in patients with macular epiretinal membrane (ERM) for the planning of surgical strategy.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred twenty-three eyes of 121 patients (49 men, 72 women; mean age, 66 years) with an idiopathic ERM were enrolled. All patients underwent an ophthalmic examination including indirect ophthalmoscopy and OCT (Cirrus HD-OCT 4000 and/or 5000). OCT images obtained using model 4000 were transferred to the model 5000 system for vitreoretinal interface (VRI) analysis. The retinal thickness in each area, occurrence rate, and locations of the edges and partial detachments of the ERMs were evaluated using OCT.
  
  
  RESULTS
  OCT detected identifiable edges in 61 (50%) eyes and partial detachments in 116 (94%) of the 123 eyes. The edges and partial detachments were seen more frequently in the inferior macula. VRI analysis also detected the edges and partial detachments. Excluding the central area, the superior quadrant was the thickest in patients with an ERM.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Preoperatively acquired OCT images are useful for planning surgical strategies and performing the surgeries smoothly.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan.
authors.forename: Norihiro
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshio
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hirano
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan.
authors.forename: Miyu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ichida
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan.
authors.forename: Taneto
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tomiyasu
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuya
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Esaki
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan.
authors.forename: Tsutomu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yasukawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuichiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ogura
keywords: epiretinal membrane; membrane edges; optical coherence tomography; surgical strategy