Epiretinal Membrane Surgery with 23-Gauge Transconjunctival Sutureless Vitrectomy Using Double-Staining Technique

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the 23-gauge (23-G) transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy (TSV) results for epiretinal membranes (ERM) using double-staining technique with trypan blue (TB) and brilliant blue (BB). Material and Methods: In this study, 15 eyes of 15 patients who underwent 23-G TSV for primary ERM were retrospectively reviewed. TB was used for ERM removal and BB was used for inner limiting membrane (ILM) removal, consecutively. Main outcome measures were visual acuity, intraocular pressure, and intraoperative and postoperative complications. Wilcoxon test was used for statistical analysis. Results: Median follow-up was 4 months (range, 111 months). ERM, which was present in preoperative optical coherence tomography scanning, was not detected postoperatively in any of the eyes. Preoperative visual acuity was between counting fingers from 2 meters and 2/10, whereas it was between 1/10 and 9/10 postoperatively. Median log-MAR visual acuity was 0.5 (0.30-1.60) preoperatively and 0.40 (0.10-1.18) postoperatively (p=0.039, Wilcoxon test). Median intraocular pressure was 15 (11-16) mmHg preoperatively, and 14 (8-21) mmHg postoperatively (p=0.685, Wilcoxon testi). While visual acuity improved by 2 or more lines in 9 eyes (60%), it remained within +/- 2 lines in 6 eyes (40%). Cataract developed in one eye (6.7%) and rhegmatogenous retinal detachment developed in another eye (6.7%). Postoperative ERM recurrence did not develop. Conclusion: 23-G TSV with double-staining technique seems to be effective and safe in ERM surgery. The effectiveness of this method can be assessed better with prospective studies including large number of patients.