PREDICTION OF VISUAL OUTCOME AFTER MACULA R EPIRETINAL MEMBRANES SURGERY BY WHITE-LIGHT INTERFEROMETRY

Background The predictability of the measurement of the macular functi on by white light interferometry was evaluated in a group of patients whose epiretinal membranes had been surgically removed. Method Fifteen patients presenting either primitive or secondary epiretinal membrane s were included. We used the apparatus described by W. Lotmar. The mai n evaluation criteria was the best corrected visual acuity (VA) chosen between the third month and the sixth month examinations. Results Pre operatively the mean visual acuity was 0.227 +/- 0.105. The mean final visual acuity was 0.507 +/- 0.198. The final visual acuity was predic ted within an 0.1 interval in ten cases (67%). In two cases the predic ted visual acuity was identical to the pre-operative VA and the final results confirmed the rest. No improvement occurred. Conclusion The Lo tmar visometer is stastistically predictive of the visual outcome afte r epi-retinal membranes surgery.