Postoperative epiretinal membrane after rhegmatogenous retinal detachment repair: temporal characteristics and early OCT predictors
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Purpose To characterize the temporal pattern of epiretinal membrane (ERM) development following pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) and to determine whether early postoperative optical coherence tomography (OCT) findings predict subsequent ERM formation. Methods This retrospective longitudinal cohort study included 230 consecutive eyes undergoing primary PPV, with or without scleral buckling, for RRD. Patients underwent postoperative OCT examinations at approximately 1, 3, 6, and ≥ 12 months. Time to first OCT-confirmed ERM was determined, and demographic, ocular, and surgical characteristics were compared between eyes with and without ERM. In eyes free of ERM at the 1-month visit with complete OCT data ( n = 133), multivariable logistic regression evaluated early OCT biomarkers, including intraretinal cysts (IRC), disorganization of the retinal inner layers, ellipsoid zone disruption, and subfoveal choroidal thickness, after adjustment for relevant clinical variables. Results ERM developed in 46 of 230 eyes (20.0%), and 23 eyes (50.0%) subsequently underwent membrane peeling. Median time to ERM detection was 5.5 months (IQR, 3.0–9.8), with 41.3% of cases detected within 3 months and 60.9% within 6 months; however, 21.7% were first identified beyond 12 months, with the latest case occurring 38 months after surgery. In the longitudinal OCT review, 38/46 eyes (82.6%) had a previously documented ERM-free macular interface, whereas onset timing was indeterminate in 8/46 eyes (17.4%). IRC on the 1-month postoperative OCT was independently associated with subsequent ERM development (OR, 3.33; 95% CI, 1.25–8.82; P = 0.016). Conclusions Postoperative ERM following PPV for RRD demonstrates a prolonged temporal profile, with most cases developing within 6 months but a clinically meaningful proportion arising beyond the first postoperative year. Early postoperative intraretinal cysts may represent an early imaging marker of subsequent ERM formation; however, the modest overall model performance warrants prospective validation before OCT-based risk stratification can be considered clinically established. Clinical trial registration Not applicable.
Language: English
Topic: Retinal and Macular Surgery
Subfield: Ophthalmology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,890
OpenAlex ID: W7204855345