Morphological plasticity and visual acuity in the natural course of epiretinal membrane-foveoschisis: A longitudinal OCT study


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Hetzel A., Wenzel C. J., Gelisken F., ATAY DİNÇER K., Wenzel D. A.

Eye (Basingstoke), 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus) identifier identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Basım Tarihi: 2026
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1038/s41433-026-04304-8
  • Dergi Adı: Eye (Basingstoke)
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, BIOSIS, EMBASE, MEDLINE
  • Eskişehir Osmangazi Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Objectives: To characterise the natural course of epiretinal membrane-foveoschisis (ERM-F) using optical coherence tomography (OCT) and analyse morphological and visual changes. Methods: Retrospective single-centre study of treatment-naïve idiopathic ERM-F eyes. Functional and morphological changes from baseline to the final visit were assessed. The primary outcome was change in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA). Secondary outcomes included subtype transitions, progression to lamellar macular hole (LMH) or mixed ERM-F/LMH. Results: A total of 124 eyes from 113 patients (mean age 67.9 ± 8.0 years) were followed for 58.8 ± 47.4 months. Mean BCVA remained stable (baseline: 0.16 ± 0.15 logMAR; final: 0.18 ± 0.15 logMAR; p = 0.29). Baseline ERM-F subtypes were open-flat (61.3%), open-elevated (24.2%), and closed (14.5%), shifting to 46.8%, 28.2%, and 9.7%, respectively, at the final visit. Conversion to mixed ERM-F/LMH and LMH occurred in 11.3% and 2.4% of eyes, respectively; two eyes (1.6%) developed a normal foveal contour, while two eyes progressed from open-flat ERM-F via mixed ERM-F/LMH phenotype to full-thickness macular hole. Central foveal thickness (CFT) did not change significantly (p = 0.457). Structural changes included increased foveal wall verticalisation and emergence of subfoveal EZ disruption, undermined edges, retinal tissue loss, and foveal bump in a subset of patients. Subfoveal EZ disruption was associated with worse final BCVA on univariable analysis, but not after multivariable adjustment for baseline BCVA and cataract surgery. Conclusion: ERM-F shows morphological plasticity with generally stable visual outcomes. A minority of eyes progress to mixed ERM-F/LMH or LMH.