Prediction of Visual Prognosis after Epiretinal Membrane Surgery Using Regression Tree Analysis

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background and Objective: Confounding factors should be considered when predicting visual prognosis after epiretinal membrane (ERM) surgery. We aimed to predict visual acuity after ERM surgery using regression tree analysis. Patients and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 343 eyes of 343 patients who underwent vitrectomy for idiopathic ERM. Regression tree analysis was performed to predict best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) at 6 months postoperatively. Results: Patients were first divided into two groups based on preoperative BCVA. Age, central macular thickness, and axial length were associated with visual prognosis in patients with specific preoperative BCVAs. When patients were subdivided into groups 1–8, BCVA was significantly better in group 1 than in groups 4–8 (p≤0.001), and in groups 2–5 and 7 than in groups 6 and 8 (p≤0.002). Conclusion: Surgical prognosis in eyes with ERM should be evaluated based on a comprehensive assessment of preoperative characteristics.