TRANSCONJUNCTIVAL NONVITRECTOMIZING VITREOUS SURGERY VERSUS 25-GAUGE VITRECTOMY IN PATIENTS WITH EPIRETINAL MEMBRANE: A Prospective Randomized Study. Issue 5 (May 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Reibaldi, Michele; Longo, Antonio; Avitabile, Teresio; Bonfiglio, Vincenza; Toro, Mario D.; Russo, Andrea; Viti, Francesca; Nicolai, Michele; Saitta, Andrea; Giovannini, Alfonso; Mariotti, Cesare
• Is Part Of: Retina. Volume 35:Issue 5(2015:May)
• Publication Date: 2015-05
• Subjects: cataract -- idiopathic epiretinal membrane -- nonvitrectomizing surgery -- retinal break -- vitrectomy; Retina -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Retinal Diseases; Vitreous Body; 617.735
• DOI: 10.1097/IAE.0000000000000459
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0275-004X

Abstract

Abstract : Purpose: To compare the clinical outcomes and the rate of complications of 27-gauge transconjunctival nonvitrectomizing vitreous surgery (NVS) and of 25-gauge transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy surgery for idiopathic epiretinal membrane removal. Methods: In this prospective randomized study, 83 phakic eyes of 83 consecutive patients with an idiopathic epiretinal membrane were randomized to receive 27-gauge NVS (NVS-group) or 25-gauge vitrectomy (Standard-group). Main outcome measures were best-corrected visual acuity, central retinal thickness, nuclear density units' changes, and rate of complications. Results: Thirty-nine eyes of the Standard-group and 40 of the NVS-group were considered in final analysis. Mean best-corrected visual acuity improved significantly in both groups, with a significant better result at 12 months in NVS-group ( P = 0.039; t -test). Central retinal thickness decreased significantly in both groups ( P < 0.001, Tukey test), without significant difference between the two groups at any time point. At 12 months, nuclear density increased significantly in the Standard-group (analysis of variance, P < 0.001), and it did not change in the NVS-group (analysis of variance, P = 0.537). Epiretinal membrane recurred in 5.1% of eyes in the Standard-group and in 7.5% of eyes in the NVS-group (Fisher's exact test, P = 1.000). Conclusion: The 27-gauge NVS is an effective surgical procedure in eyes with epiretinal membrane and it induces less progression of nuclear sclerosis than 25-gauge vitrectomy. Abstract : This study shows that 27-gauge transconjunctival nonvitrectomizing vitreous surgery is effective in the treatment of epiretinal membrane and induces less progression of nuclear sclerosis compared with 25-gauge vitrectomy.