Binocular visual function improvement after pars plana vitrectomy for epiretinal membrane

Abstract

Purpose: To report binocular visual function changes after pars plana vitrectomy for epiretinal membrane (ERM) and the related outcomes.

Methods: Twenty-three eyes of 23 patients operated on for ERM were included in a retrospective study. Clinical data, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), contrast sensitivity and binocular visual function were assessed pre- and 1 and 3 months post-operatively. Binocular visual function assessment included the evaluation of fusional amplitudes (i.e., vergences) by the synoptophore, far distance stereopsis using polarized glasses and near stereopsis using Randot and TNO tests. Central macular thickness (CMT) was measured on Spectral Domain - Optical Coherence Tomography.

Results: Mean age of the patients was 67 years. Mean BCVA and contrast sensitivity significantly improved post-operatively at one (p = 0.0006 and p = 0.0022, respectively) and 3 months (p < 0.0001 and p < 0.0001, respectively), while CMT significantly decreased after 1-3 months (p < 0.0001 and p < 0.0001, respectively). Fusional amplitudes improved after 3 months (p < 0.0001). Far distance and near stereopsis significantly improved after 3 months (p < 0.0001 and p = 0.0007 for Randot test, and p < 0.0001 for TNO test, respectively).

Conclusions: Pars plana vitrectomy for ERM surgery leads to an improvement of monocular and binocular visual functions (i.e., binocular fusion, near and far distance stereopsis), within 3 months post-operatively.

Keywords: binocular visual function; contrast sensitivity; epiretinal membrane; far distance stereopsis; near stereopsis; pars plana vitrectomy.