En‐face imaging of epiretinal membrane using swept source optical coherence tomography

Abstract

PurposeTo define morphologic features of epiretinal membrane (ERM) using en face images from swept‐source optical coherence tomography (SS OCT).MethodsConsequtive patients with idiopathic ERM were analyzed for en face imaging analysis within a 6‐month period. All patients had undergone 3D volume scan of swept source OCT (Triton OCT, Topcon, Japan). The patients were devided into 3 groups, retinal thickening without retinal hole (Group 1); retinal thickening with lamellar macular hole (Group 2); retinal thickening with macular pseudohole (Group 3). Secondary ERM were excluded from analysis. En face imaging was analyzed on and under the level of ILM.ResultsMean patient age was 63.6 ± 10.8 years (n = 77). Mean central retinal thickness (CRT) in group 1, 2, and 3 was 422.3 ± 73.3 μm (n = 51), 334.1 ± 39.6 μm (n = 34) and 277.7 ± 58.6 μm (n = 12). En face imaging under ILM level well visualized central tractional membrane (CTM), and imaging on the ILM level showed well radiating folds (RF) over the posterior pole. Group 1 had CTM over the fovea (100%), however Group 2 had CTM outside the fovea (94.1%). Group 3 had better BCVA and lesser CRT than the other groups (ANOVA p < 0.05).ConclusionsEn face SS OCT provides an useful tool to visualize the pathologic features in epiretinal membrane. Lamellar macular hole might be associated with perifoveal or extrafoveal epiretinal membrane and it's tractional force. Macular pseudohole might be associated with ERM or prior macular traction. En face SS OCT provides an useful tool to visualize the pathologic features in epiretinal membrane.