Abstract
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate changes in visual function following surgery and identify predictors of postoperative visual function in patients with idiopathic epiretinal membrane (iERM). METHODS: This retrospective study included 37 eyes with iERM. Macular structure was assessed using optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography (OCTA), whereas visual function was evaluated using best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and microperimetry. All parameters were measured preoperatively (baseline) and at 3 and 6 months postoperatively. Associations between macular structural parameters and visual function outcomes were analyzed. RESULTS: Central retinal thickness (CRT) decreased significantly at both 3 and 6 months postoperatively. Parafoveal vessel density (PFVD) of the deep capillary plexus (DCP) and BCVA improved significantly at 3 months, with no significant changes observed between 3 and 6 months. Retinal sensitivity (RS) and fixation stability (FS) demonstrated significant improvement at 6 months, whereas macular integrity (MI) showed no significant postoperative changes. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that baseline PFVD of the DCP was a significant predictor of postoperative BCVA. Logistic regression analysis identified baseline PFVD of the DCP as an independent predictor of postoperative FS improvement. CONCLUSIONS: BCVA, RS, and FS improve significantly following iERM surgery, with BCVA improving earlier than microperimetry parameters. A higher baseline PFVD of the DCP is a significant prognostic factor for better BCVA and FS improvement. TRANSLATIONAL RELEVANCE: Microperimetry offers an objective and quantitative evaluation of macular functional changes after iERM surgery. PFVD of the DCP, as measured by OCTA, can serve as a valuable predictor of BCVA and FS outcomes postoperatively.