A new method for quantification of metamorphopsia in patients with epiretinal membrane

Purpose: A new method for quantification of metamorphopsia was applied to s tudy distorted vision in patients with epiretinal membrane. Method: Sixty-three patients with unilateral epiretinal membrane in the mac ula were examined. A modified Amsler chart (a grid of black lines on a whit e background measuring 12 x 12 cm with grid squares of 2 x 2 cm) was prepar ed. If patients saw any of the grid lines as irregular or curved, they were asked to trace these on the chart. The length of all lines drawn by the pa tients was measured, except those on the outer border. The length of the gr id is 1200 mm. hut it should be drawn longer by patients with metamorphopsi a. The severity of metamorphopsia was also scored subjectively and the rela tionship of grid length to the subjective score and the visual acuity was a nalyzed. Results: The grid length ranged from 1200 to 1259 mm (mean = 1223.3 mm) and was correlated significantly with the subjective score (P <.011 0 =.387). Conclusion: This method might be applicable for evaluating the severity of metamorphopsia and the surgical outcome in patients with epiretinal membran e. (C) 2000 Japanese Ophthalmological Society.