AIM: To explore the efficacy and safety of vitrectomy combine with internal limiting membrane peeling and epiretinal membranes peeling in the treatment of idiopathic epiretinal membrane(IERM).

METHODS: In this retrospective study, 53 patients(53 eyes)who underwent vitrectomy for IERM from January 2015 to December 2015 were evaluated, with 24-month follow-up. Only removal of the epiretinal membrane(ERM group)was performed in 21 patients, while 32 had removal of the epiretinal membrane associated with internal limiting membrane peeling(ERM+ILM group). The best corrected visual acuity(BCVA), central macular thickness(CMT)and the complications were observed and analyzed before operation, 1, 3, 12, 24mo after operation.

RESULTS: Both groups showed significant improvement of BCVA when compared to preoperative BCVA(P<0.05). In ERM group the BCVA before and 1, 3, 12 and 24mo after operation were 0.676±0.137,0.576±0.099, 0.551±0.085, 0.514±0.077, 0.506±0.032, and in ERM+ILM group were 0.659±0.132, 0.582±0.111, 0.578±0.101, 0.523±0.062, 0.511±0.081. The comparison between the two groups at 1, 3,12 and 24mo after surgery were no significant differences(P>0.05). After operation, statistically significant CMT reduction occurred in both groups(P<0.05). In ERM group the preoperative and postoperative CMT were 461.14±13.477μm, 402.36±11.346μm, 368.52±13.216μm, 325.24±8.246μm, 273.29±8.973μm, and in ERM+ILM group were 462.47±14.287μm, 414.72±9.237μm, 373.44±8.328μm, 328.94±6.923μm, 274.28±8.340μm. There were no significant difference between the two groups at 1, 3, 12 and 24 after operation(P>0.05). There were 3 cases(3 eyes)had retinal punctate hemorrhage after operation, of which 1(5%)was from the ERM group and 2(6%)were from the ERM+ILM group. No significant difference was observed between the groups(P=1.000). At the end of follow-up, 4 cases(19%)presented with recurrence of the epiretinal membrane all from the ERM group, and there no recurrence was found in ERM+ILM group, and the difference was statistically significant(P=0.020).

CONCLUSION: Vitrectomy with ILM peeling and epiretinal membranes peeling for the treatment of epiretinal membrane is the efficacy and safety, and it may reduce the recurrence.