Morphologic and Postoperative Fixation Characteristics of the Macular Epiretinal Membrane in Young Patients Undergoing Surgery

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To describe morphologic characteristics, surgical outcomes, postoperative preferred retinal loci (PRL), and fixation stability of epiretinal membranes (ERMs) in young patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This retrospective study analyzed 43 eyes of 41 young patients (age range: 0.8 years to 28 years) with ERMs, which were divided into two groups: secondary ERMs (SERMs; n = 28) and idiopathic ERMs (IERMs; n = 13). All 43 eyes underwent 25-gauge vitrectomy and membrane peeling. Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography scans and microperimetry were used to analyze morphologic and fixation characteristics, respectively. RESULTS: Premacular fibrosis was more common in SERMs group (P = .006). SERMs were also associated with less external limiting membrane (ELM) (P = .008) and ellipsoid zone visibility (P = .008) compared with IERMs. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) improved in 20 eyes (69%) with SERMs (P = .005) and in 12 eyes (86%) with IERMs (P = .13). From the analysis of the postoperative fixation characteristics, there was a linear correlation between visual acuity and fixation stability (R-2 = 0.495). CONCLUSION: BCVA improved significantly in young patients with ERM, even in cases with a severely disrupted ELM and ellipsoid zone. More attention should be paid to the postoperative fixation location and stability.