Prognostic Indicators for Visual Outcomes following Surgery for Epiretinal Membrane Associated with Diabetic Patients

The epiretinal membrane (ERM) is semitransparent; fibrocellular membrane found on the inner surface of the internal limiting membrane (ILM) at the macula [1]. ERM most commonly take place in the elderly population and can lead to distortion, blurring of vision, and in some patients severe vision loss [13]. ERM formation may lead to visual inconveniences, such as metamorphopsia, photopsia, blurred vision, and decreased visual acuity, which impacts an individual’s quality of life. Machemer R [1,4] was the first to describe pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) with ERM peeling procedures. ERMs are documented to regress in around a quarter of cases [5]. The invention of optical coherence tomography (OCT) has demonstrated a more precise visualization of the macular anatomy and better understanding of the pathophysiology of the vitreoretinal interface diseases [6-8]. OCT has developed to become the main standard for confirming, managing and follow-up of different vitreoretinal pathology including ERM since described by Puliafito et al. in 1995 [9]. Patients and Methods