Macular Choroidal Thickness Changes in Development, Progression, and Spontaneous Resolution of Epiretinal Membrane

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE:

To evaluate the association between macular choroidal thickness and the development, progression, and resolution of epiretinal membrane (ERM).

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

The patients (n = 38) with unilateral ERM eyes with definitive changes on optical coherence tomography (OCT) and healthy fellow eyes were observed retrospectively. ERM eyes were divided into three groups: Development/new-onset group (n = 14), progression group (n = 13), and resolution group (n = 11). In each group, the average changes of macular choroidal thickness over time in ERM eyes were compared with those in the fellow eyes RESULTS: Choroidal thickness significantly decreased from 174.0 μm at baseline to 132.3 μm at event time (P = .001) in the development group, and from 140.0 μm ± 30.0 μm to 120.5 μm (P = .002) in the progression group. Conversely, a significant increase in choroidal thickness was observed in the resolution group (from 205.2 μm to 222.6 μm; P = .004). The fellow eyes showed no significant changes in choroidal thickness in all three groups.

CONCLUSION:

Choroidal thinning in newly developed or significantly progressed ERM eyes and choroidal thickening in spontaneously resolved ERM eyes suggest a clinical implication of choroidal changes in ERM.