Visual and anatomic outcomes of epiretinal membrane surgery in highly myopic eyes with varying axial lengthsOA

AIM:To observe the clinical features and the surgical outcomes of the high myopic(HM)patients with epiretinal membranes(ERM).METHODS:This was a retrospective study enrolled HM patients diagnosed with ERM who underwent vitrectomy between May 2012 and November 2021.Three groups were divided according to axial length(AXL):26–<28 mm(n=43),28–<30 mm(n=22),and≥30 mm(n=11).Baseline characteristics and postoperative visual and anatomical outcomes were analyzed.RESULTS:Totally 76 consecutive eyes of 73 HM patients(27 males),with a mean age of 60.5±9.2y(range:38–84y)were enrolled.The initial best-corrected visual acuity(BCVA)of the three groups was not significantly different(P=0.498).Longer AXL was associated with a higher incidence of both inner and outer macular retinoschisis(MRS),ellipsoid zone(EZ)disruption,and foveal retinal detachment(all P<0.05).Only the eyes in the 26–<28 mm group showed a significant improvement in postoperative BCVA.BCVA was improved in 77.6%of the eyes.Among the eyes with BCVA not improved,58.8%belonged to the group 26–<28 mm.The postoperative macular hole was seen in 1(1.32%)eye.Multivariate linear regression analysis indicated that initial BCVA(P<0.001)and epiretinal proliferation(P=0.010)influenced the final BCVA.CONCLUSION:AXL is not significantly associated with visual recovery.Early operative intervention might have better visual and anatomical outcomes in HM-ERM patients.