Abstract
This study retrospectively analyzed medical records of 354 epiretinal membrane (ERM) eyes of 339 patients with 6-month postoperative follow-up to investigate the correlation between ectopic foveal inner layer (EIFL) and the EIFL-based ERM staging system with the anatomical and functional prognosis post pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) combined with cataract surgery. Our results showed preoperative ERM stage (tau-b = 0.196, P < 0.001), disorganization of the retinal inner layers (DRIL) severity (tau-b = 0.248, P < 0.001), central foveal thickness (CFT) (R = 0.387, P < 0.001) and EIFL thickness (R = 0.315, P < 0.001) were positively correlated with logMAR best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) at 6-month follow-up. Preoperative ERM stage (tau-b = 0.285, P < 0.001) and DRIL severity (tau-b = 0.239, P < 0.001) were positively correlated with CFT at 6-month follow-up. No significant correlation was found between ERM staging (P = 0.054) with macular edema (ME) resolution at 6 months. More advanced ERM stage (R = 0.494, P < 0.001) and DRIL severity (R = 0.379, P = 0.005) were significantly correlated with persistent newly onset ME at 6 months. Our findings showed that ERM staging based on EIFL could be a simple and intuitive way to predict the short-term functional and anatomical outcomes post-PPV.