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Dear Doctor, I Have Been Diagnosed Right Eye Epiretinal Membrane
Question: Dear Doctor,
I have been diagnosed right eye epiretinal membrane in early Feb this year and has progressed quite rapidly. My first and latest OCT uploaded, done on same machine. My vision is now 20/40, with metamorphopsia. I will soon roceed to surgery. I have some questions and wish to seek further expert advice –
1. The fovea thickness has increased from 333 to 397 within just 2 months. What is /are the reasons for such rapid progress? Is this rapid progression indicates more complications for surgery and poorer prognosis? Can you tell whether my case is simple or complicated for surgery?
2. I have consulted two doctors. The first one said I can choose complete or partial vitrectomy. He said complete vitrectomy can lead to cataract faster, may lead to increase in intraocular pressure in the longer term, but I will no longer have floaters. But 2nd doctor advised complete vitrectomy because there is a possibility that the remaining vitreous humor will pull the retina, also there will still be floaters.
Which option is more advisable, complete or partial vitrectomy, weighing the benefits and risks?
For partial vitrectomy, how long could it delay cataract in general?
3. One doctor said no need to inject gas in my case, and not injecting gas will not affect my recovery. However, another doctor said he will inject gas because this could help better recovery. I am confused. Is gas injection really better? Will “gas injection” make a difference in the final vision improvement achieved, as compared to “no gas injection”?
4. How much improvement in visual acuity can I expect after surgery ? Currently, I have enlarged and distorted images for my right eye. This imbalance of image sizes makes my vision strange and I feel very uneasy, sometimes. Is this imbalance called aniseikonia? I am currently quite upset by this problem. Will this problem be completely removed after erm surgery?
Thanks in advance for your expert advice.
I have been diagnosed right eye epiretinal membrane in early Feb this year and has progressed quite rapidly. My first and latest OCT uploaded, done on same machine. My vision is now 20/40, with metamorphopsia. I will soon roceed to surgery. I have some questions and wish to seek further expert advice –
1. The fovea thickness has increased from 333 to 397 within just 2 months. What is /are the reasons for such rapid progress? Is this rapid progression indicates more complications for surgery and poorer prognosis? Can you tell whether my case is simple or complicated for surgery?
2. I have consulted two doctors. The first one said I can choose complete or partial vitrectomy. He said complete vitrectomy can lead to cataract faster, may lead to increase in intraocular pressure in the longer term, but I will no longer have floaters. But 2nd doctor advised complete vitrectomy because there is a possibility that the remaining vitreous humor will pull the retina, also there will still be floaters.
Which option is more advisable, complete or partial vitrectomy, weighing the benefits and risks?
For partial vitrectomy, how long could it delay cataract in general?
3. One doctor said no need to inject gas in my case, and not injecting gas will not affect my recovery. However, another doctor said he will inject gas because this could help better recovery. I am confused. Is gas injection really better? Will “gas injection” make a difference in the final vision improvement achieved, as compared to “no gas injection”?
4. How much improvement in visual acuity can I expect after surgery ? Currently, I have enlarged and distorted images for my right eye. This imbalance of image sizes makes my vision strange and I feel very uneasy, sometimes. Is this imbalance called aniseikonia? I am currently quite upset by this problem. Will this problem be completely removed after erm surgery?
Thanks in advance for your expert advice.
Brief Answer:
ERM
Detailed Answer:
My dear,
Thanks for sending your query to us.
You have quantitatively good vision but you do have issues with quality of vision.
The increase of foveal thickness is not primarily due to een thickening but can be some issue with fovea.ERM doesn't progress like this.
The choice of partial and complete correcting is not given to the patient,it is fir the surgeon to decide during surgery what action is in the best intrest of patient,same is with gas injection in the eye.This gives a transient temponade for a few days and is absorbed un the eye and need not to be taken out.
With good surgery you will have good result.You have to have regular follow up to monitor any change after surgery.
ERM
Detailed Answer:
My dear,
Thanks for sending your query to us.
You have quantitatively good vision but you do have issues with quality of vision.
The increase of foveal thickness is not primarily due to een thickening but can be some issue with fovea.ERM doesn't progress like this.
The choice of partial and complete correcting is not given to the patient,it is fir the surgeon to decide during surgery what action is in the best intrest of patient,same is with gas injection in the eye.This gives a transient temponade for a few days and is absorbed un the eye and need not to be taken out.
With good surgery you will have good result.You have to have regular follow up to monitor any change after surgery.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Answered by
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