Quantification of metamorphopsia in patients with epiretinal membranes before and after surgery.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

To evaluate quantification of metamorphopsia before and after the removal of unilateral epiretinal membrane (ERM).

METHODS:

One hundred and four consecutive patients with unilateral ERM scheduled for membrane peeling were prospectively enrolled. A complete ophthalmologic examination was performed. Metamorphopsia was evaluated, with standard Amsler grids and a laser grid generated with a scanning laser ophthalmoscope (SLO). The SLO procedure determined the area of distortion and was performed twice at a 30-minute interval to evaluate its reproducibility. The result was considered to be reliable when the area of distortion was identical in both SLO test sessions. One year after surgery, a complete ophthalmologic examination was performed. Metamorphopsia was again quantified with the SLO procedure.

RESULTS:

Before surgery, a reliable quantification of metamorphopsia (defined as area of distortion) could be performed in 98 patients (94%). Among these patients, 85 completed the follow-up of 12 months after surgery. Of these 85 patients, visual distortions had been detected preoperatively in 48 patients (56%). One year after surgery, visual distortions were detected in only 11 patients (13%). In 48 patients with preoperative distortions, the decrease of the area of distortion correlated with the change in visual acuity (r = -0.460, p = 0.011).

CONCLUSIONS:

SLO-based evaluation of metamorphopsia made it possible to provide a fast and reliable method for preoperative and post-operative quantification of visual distortion in patients undergoing ERM removal.

• Authors: Carl Arndt, Olivier Rebollo, Sylvie Séguinet, Philippe Debruyne, Georges Caputo
• Journal: Graefe's archive for clinical and experimental ophthalmology = Albrecht von Graefes Archiv fur klinische und experimentelle Ophthalmologie (Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol) Vol. 245 Issue 8 Pg. 1123-9 (Aug 2007) ISSN: 0721-832X [Print] Germany
• PMID: 17219116 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Epiretinal Membrane (complications, physiopathology, surgery)
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Ophthalmoscopy (methods)
• Vision Disorders (diagnosis, etiology, physiopathology)
• Visual Acuity
• Vitrectomy