Clinical Outcomes of Idiopathic Epiretinal Membrane Removal in Patients 80 Years or Older

Purpose: To evaluate clinical outcomes of idiopathic epiretinal membrane removal in patients >= 80 years of age. Methods: A retrospective review of medical records was performed with 56 patients who underwent vitrectomy and removal of idiopathic epiretinal membrane. In the 80 years of age group (n = 28), the best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central macular thickness (CMT) before surgery were compared with those at the final follow-up. The amount of change in the BCVA after surgery was also compared between the >= 80 years of age group and the < 80 years of age group (n = 28). Results: In the 80 years of age group, the mean follow-up period was 19.1 +/- 17.0 months. Before surgery, 11 eyes were pseudophakic and 17 eyes were phakic. Combined cataract surgery was performed with epiretinal membrane removal in all 17 phakic eyes. The mean logarithm of the minimal angle of resolution BCVA was 0.75 +/- 0.30 before surgery, which improved to 0.50 +/- 0.30 at the final follow-up (p < 0.001). The CMT was 458.0 +/- 79.7 mu m before surgery, which decreased to 367.2 +/- 83.4 mu m at the final follow-up (p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in the amount of change in the BCVA after the surgery between the >= 80 years of age group and the < 80 years of age group (p = 0.547). Conclusions: In patients with idiopathic epiretinal membrane who were >= 80 years of age, the visual acuity was improved or maintained, and was accompanied with anatomical improvement after epiretinal membrane removal with or without cataract surgery. These results suggest the usefulness of epiretinal membrane removal in older patients.