Am. Maguire et al., PREOPERATIVE FLUORESCEIN ANGIOGRAPHIC FEATURES OF SURGICALLY REMOVED IDIOPATHIC EPIRETINAL MEMBRANES, Retina, 14(5), 1994, pp. 411-416
Purpose: To determine whether preoperative fluorescein angiograms can
be used to predict visual prognosis in eyes undergoing surgical remova
l of idiopathic epiretinal membranes. Methods: A retrospective study o
f preoperative fluorescein angiographic findings in cases of idiopathi
c epimacular membrane removal during vitreous surgery was conducted. O
f 422 consecutive cases, 229 met the criteria for minimum follow-up pe
riod of 6 months. Angiograms from these 229 cases were analyzed in a s
tandardized, masked fashion for macular edema, retinal vascular distor
tion, and contraction of the foveal avascular zone. Results: Visual im
provement was greatest in 7 eyes (3%) with the most severe degree of m
acular edema (P = 0.0215). No difference in visual outcome was noted b
etween eyes with less severe macular edema or no macular edema. Change
in visual acuity was not associated with the extent of retinal vascul
ar distortion (P = 0.477) or contraction of the foveal avascular zone
(P = 0.248) Conclusion: The presence of macular edema on preoperative
fluorescein angiography is not predictive of a poor visual outcome in
eyes undergoing surgery for idiopathic epiretinal membranes. In genera
l, preoperative fluorescein angiography is not useful in predicting vi
sual prognosis in these cases.