Effect of idiopathic epiretinal membrane on the macular ganglion cell complex measurement in eyes with glaucoma

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AbstractPurpose: This study investigated the effect of idiopathic epiretinal membrane (ERM) and associated SUKIMA on ganglion cell complex (GCC) thickness measurements in eyes with glaucoma.Methods: We retrospectively recruited 41 eyes of 34 patients with glaucoma with idiopathic ERM and 41 eyes of 41 patients with glaucoma without ERM as controls (matched with age, axial length, and mean visual field deviation). The thicknesses of GCC layers (retinal nerve fibre layer [RNFL], ganglion cell layer + inner plexiform layer [GCIPL] and GCC [RNFL + GCIPL]) were measured with swept source optical coherence tomography. We investigated the presence of SUKIMA (the gap between the ERM and retinal surface) and its effect on GCC measurements.Results: RNFL, GCIPL, and GCC were thicker in ERM (+) eyes than in control (31.0 ± 12.3 μm vs. 22.7 ± 10.8 μm, 62.6 ± 12.2 μm vs. 53.8 ± 5.9 μm, and 91.8 ± 16.6 μm vs. 76.8 ± 13.3 μm, respectively; p < 0.01). Eyes with ERM‐associated SUKIMA (+) had thicker GCIPL and GCC compared with those with ERM but no SUKIMA (−) and controls (p < 0.01).Conclusions: ERM‐associated SUKIMA influences GCC thickness and can result in underestimations of glaucoma severity. We should check the presence of ERM using B mode scan and also check the SKIMA sign.