Effect of Foveal Pit Restoration in Foveal Avascular Zone after Surgery for Idiopathic Epiretinal Membrane

Purpose: To investigate the relationship between ophthalmic parameters&#8212;including optical coherence tomography (OCT)and OCT angiography findings&#8212;and foveal pit restoration in eyes that had undergone vitrectomy for idiopathic epiretinalmembrane (iERM) removal. Methods: This study retrospectively analyzed data of patients who underwent pars planar vitrectomy for the removal ofepirentinal membrane. Only eyes with iERM above stage 2 with a follow-up over 6 months were included. Baseline dataand changes in ophthalmic parameters were analyzed from 3 months before to 12 months after surgery. Additionally, westratified iERM patients into two groups (foveal pit restoration and no restoration group). Longitudinal comparison analysesbetween the two groups were done in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central foveal thickness (CFT) and foveal avascularzone (FAZ) areas measurements using swept-source OCT and OCT angiography. Results: Forty-three patients with a mean age of 75 ± 5 years were enrolled. After surgery, BCVA, FAZ, and CFT showedimprovements over time (all p < 0.002). Thirty-one patients were designated into the foveal pit restoration (R) group and 12patients into the no restoration (NR) group. Differences in BCVA and FAZ area in both groups existed up to 6 months. However,BCVA improved and FAZ expanded (R, 0.20 ± 0.05 vs. NR, 0.18 ± 0.04) in both groups showing no statistical difference12 months postsurgery. The CFT decreased in both groups, but the R group was thinner at every point compared to the NRgroup (all p < 0.05). Conclusions: The removal of epirentinal membrane in pars planar vitrectomy significantly improves BCVA, decreases the CFTand expands the FAZ. Foveal pit restoration improves BCVA, CFT, and FAZ area possibly at a faster rate in the early monthsbut long-term improvements could be achieved regardless of the status of foveal pit restoration.