AIM: To analyze the changes of the epiretinal membrane(ERM)stage, macular status and best corrected visual acuity(BCVA, LogMAR)in cataract patients with idiopathic macular epiretinal membrane(IERM)before and after cataract surgery.

METHODS:We conducted a single center retrospective observational case series of patients that underwent sequential cataract and idiopatic ERM surgeries from March 2016 to May 2019 in Anyang Eye Hospital. Full data were obtained for 51 patients(54 eyes).Preoperative and postoperative 1mo ERM stage, central macular edema(CME), central macular thickness(CMT), macular volume(MV), ellipsoid zone disruption, occurrence of neurosensory detachment(NSD)and BCVA were analyzed.

RESULTS:In this group of patients, 5 eyes(9%)had ERM grade 1, 23 eyes(43%)had ERM grade 2, 21 eyes(39%)had ERM grade 3, and 5 eyes(9%)had ERM grade 4 before surgery; ERM graded 1mo after surgery were keeping steady. Compared with before operation(0.45±0.16),there was no significant change in BCVA(0.47±0.17)at 1mo after operation(P>0.05), but the incidence of CME, ellipsoid band interruption and NSD were significantly higher than those before operation(P<0.05).

CONCLUSION: We suggest that phacoemulsification did not significantly accelerate ERM progression and affect BCVA, but patients underwent cataract surgery in the presence of epiretinal membranes need tight follow up to treat and control eventual macular infammatory changes and eventual prompt vitrectomy if BCVA was threatened.