Purpose.: To investigate the relationship between the severity of metamorphopsia and the foveal microstructure measured with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) in patients with epiretinal membrane (ERM). Methods.: This study included 48 eyes of 48 patients with idiopathic ERM and 18 age-matched normal controls. We examined the logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution best-corrected visual acuity (logMAR BCVA) and the severity of metamorphopsia using M-CHARTS. Central foveal thickness (CFT), central retinal thickness at the fovea (CRT-1mm) and parafovea (CRT-3mm), and macular volume (MV) were measured with SD-OCT software. Based on the obtained OCT image, we divided the 1.0 × 1.0-mm area centered on the fovea into nine sections and quantified the following parameters using an image-processing program: mean thickness of the ganglion cell layer (GCL), inner nuclear layer (INL), and outer retinal layer (ONL+OPL: outer nuclear layer and outer plexiform layer), the degree of the photoreceptor inner and outer segment junction (IS/OS), and external limiting membrane (ELM) disruption. Results.: CFT, CRT-1mm, CRT-3mm, MV, mean GCL, INL, and ONL+OPL thickness were significantly larger in patients with ERM than in normal controls. Multiple regression analysis revealed that the severity of metamorphopsia was significantly related to the mean INL thickness (P < 0.0001). LogMAR BCVA had a significant correlation with the degree of IS/OS disruption (P < 0.05), whereas other parameters were not relevant. Conclusions.: In patients with idiopathic ERM, the degree of metamorphopsia is associated with INL thickness, and IS/OS status influences visual acuity.

To evaluate the vision-related quality of life (VR-QOL) in patients undergoing vitrectomy for epiretinal membrane (ERM) removal and to investigate the relationship between VR-QOL and the severity of pre/postoperative metamorphopsia. Prospective, interventional, consecutive, comparative case series. The 25-item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI VFQ-25) was self-administered by 28 patients (age, 66.7 +/- 8.5 years, mean +/- standard deviation) with ERM before and 3 months after vitrectomy. Preoperative and postoperative clinical data were collected, including logarithm of the minimal angle of resolution (logMAR) best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), letter contrast sensitivity, central macular thickness, and severity of metamorphopsia. The NEI VFQ-25 was also measured in 26 age-matched normal controls. The preoperative NEI VFQ-25 composite score was significantly lower in ERM patients than in normal controls (P < .0001). Vitrectomy significantly improved NEI VFQ-25 composite score as well as scores of 10 out of 12 subscales (P < .0001), except for general health and peripheral vision. The postoperative NEI VFQ-25 composite score in ERM patients, however, remained significantly lower than that in normal controls (P < .0001). The preoperative NEI VFQ-25 composite score significantly correlated with the severity of preoperative metamorphopsia (P < .05) but not with preoperative logMAR BCVA, letter contrast sensitivity, and central macular thickness. The postoperative NEI VFQ-25 composite score significantly correlated with the degree of postoperative metamorphopsia and logMAR BCVA (P < .05). The changes in NEI VFQ-25 composite score significantly correlated with changes in the severity of metamorphopsia (P < .05), but not with other parameters. VR-QOL is significantly impaired in patients with ERM, which is remarkably improved by vitrectomy. The severity of metamorphopsia strongly influences VR-QOL in patients with ERM.

To evaluate the changes in regular and irregular corneal astigmatism after 25-gauge transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy and 20-gauge standard vitrectomy. Prospective observational comparative case series. Thirty-two eyes of 32 patients undergoing 25-gauge transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy and 25 eyes of 24 patients undergoing 20-gauge standard vitrectomy. Corneal topography was obtained preoperatively and at 2 weeks and 1 month postoperatively. The dioptric data of the central 3-mm zone of the cornea were decomposed using Fourier harmonic analysis into spherical power, regular astigmatism, asymmetry, and higher-order irregularity. None of the 4 Fourier indices changed throughout the observation period in the 25-gauge group. In the 20-gauge group, regular astigmatism, asymmetry, and higher-order irregularity were increased significantly at 2 weeks after vitrectomy (P<0.05, Wilcoxon signed-ranks test) and returned to preoperative levels by 1 month. The spherical power in the 20-gauge group did not change after surgery. For regular astigmatism, asymmetry, and higher-order irregularity, the 20-gauge group showed significantly greater surgically induced changes than the 25-gauge group (P<0.05, Mann-Whitney U test). Twenty-five-gauge transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy does not induce significant changes in corneal topography and exerts little influence on the optical quality of the cornea.

Purpose.: To investigate vision-related quality of life (VR-QOL) in patients undergoing vitrectomy for various vitreoretinal disorders and to evaluate the relationship between VR-QOL and visual function. Methods.: The study included 100 normal control subjects and 299 patients with various vitreoretinal disorders including proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR), diabetic macular edema (DME), branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO), central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO), macular hole (MH), epiretinal membrane (ERM), and rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RD). The 25-item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (VFQ-25) was answered by the patients with vitreoretinal disorders before and 3 months after pars plana vitrectomy, as well as by the normal control subjects. Clinical data were collected, including visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, and severity of metamorphopsia. Results.: Vitrectomy significantly improved the VFQ-25 composite score in all vitreoretinal disorders. Preoperative VFQ-25 composite scores in MH and ERM were significantly higher than those in PDR, DME, and BRVO. Postoperative VFQ-25 composite scores were significantly higher in MH, ERM, and RD than in PDR, DME, BRVO, and CRVO. A greater improvement in the VFQ-25 composite score was observed in ERM than in DME. Multiple regression analysis revealed that changes in contrast sensitivity had a significant correlation with changes in the VFQ-25 composite score in PDR and DME. Changes in metamorphopsia were significantly associated with changes in the VFQ-25 composite score in MH and ERM. Conclusions.: Vitrectomy significantly improved VR-QOL in various vitreoretinal disorders. The largest improvement in VR-QOL was observed in ERM and smallest improvement in DME. The visual function parameters associated with VR-QOL are different depending on vitreoretinal disorders.