Surgical Outcomes in Idiopathic Epiretinal Membrane Surgery with or without Gas Tamponade

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the surgical outcomes in idiopathic epiretinal membrane (ERM) after pars plana vitrectomy with or without sulfur hexafluoride (SF 6) gas tamponade. Methods: This retrospective study included patients with idiopathic ERM, that underwent pars plana vitrectomy with ERM and internal limiting membrane peeling, and followed up for more than 1 year. The patients were divided into 2 groups: Group Ⅰ (without gas tamponade), Group Ⅱ (with gas tamponade). The best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central macular thickness (CMT), inner retinal thickness (IRT), intraretinal cystic changes (IRC) and foveal surface symmetry difference (FSSD) were evaluated before surgery and 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after surgery. Results: Out of 75 eyes of 75 patients, Group Ⅰ included 40 eyes and group Ⅱ included 35 eyes. Preoperative BCVA, CMT, IRT, IRC and FSSD were not significantly different between the two groups. Postoperative BCVA in the group Ⅰ was significantly improved in all period except 1 month, and postoperative BCVA in the group Ⅱ was significantly decreased at 1 month and was significantly improved after 6 months. Postoperative BCVA in the Group Ⅱ was significantly decreased compared with Group Ⅰ at 1 month, but there were not significant differences between the two groups since then. Postoperative CMT and IRT were significantly decreased in both groups and there were no significant differences between the two groups. There was no significant difference between the two groups in postoperative IRC at 1 month and there was no new IRC after 3 months. Postoperative FSSD was significantly increased in both groups and there were no significant differences between the two groups. Conclusions: Gas tamponade combined with vitrectomy for idiopathic ERM showed no differences of surgical outcomes. If there are no other problems, gas tamponade in idiopathic ERM would not be necessary.