Comparison of Anatomical and Functional Results of Surgeries Performed with Nitinol Flex Loop or Forceps in Primary Epiretinal Membrane.

Purpose: To compare surgery's effect with nitinol flex loop (NFL) or forceps on retinal layers and functional outcomes in the primary epiretinal membrane (ERM). Methods: The operations were classified according to the use of the NFL or forceps. Automatic segmentation of the individual inner retinal layers was performed by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography software, and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) before surgery and at the last follow-up visit postoperatively were compared. Results: Forty-two eyes of 42 patients were included with a mean age of 66.9 ± 5.7 years. 45.2% of the surgeries were NFL assisted, 54.8% were forceps assisted. The mean follow-up duration was 9.8 ± 1.3 months. The mean BCVA was 0.79 ± 0.42 vs 0.77 ± 0.39 logMAR in the preoperative period and 0.42 ± 0.27 vs. 0.40 ± 0.21 logMAR at last follow-up in the NFL vs forceps group respectively (p=.403). The retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL)(32.5% vs. 50.1%, p=.009), ganglion cell layer (18.1% vs. 41.4%, p=.021), inner plexiform layer (13.5% vs. 32.7%, p=.031) and inner nuclear layer (15.5% vs. 30.3%, p=.011) thickness decreased significantly more in the forceps group. The mean surgical time was not significantly different (45.2 ± 5.1 vs. 51.1 ± 6.1 minutes) in the NFL vs. forceps groups, respectively (p=.331). Conclusion: Following primary ERM surgery, the inner retinal layers become thinner; RNFL impacted the most, which was found higher in forceps assisted surgeries. This result shows that the NFL can be used safely in macular surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]