Long-term Observation of Retinal Structure in Patients with Idiopathic Epiretinal Membrane According to Presence of Ectopic Inner Foveal Layer

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To investigate the natural course of idiopathic epiretinal membrane (iERM) in eyes using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and analyze the association between SD-OCT findings and disease progression according to the presence of ectopic inner foveal layer (EIFL). Methods: This retrospective observational study included 48 eyes with iERM, without surgical treatment followed for more than 12 months. Subjects were classified into two groups according to the presence of EIFL using OCT (non-EIFL and EIFL groups). The best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central foveal thickness, disruption of the external limiting membrane, disruption of the inner/outer segment (IS/OS) junction, and change in EIFL were compared between the two groups. Results: The non-EIFL group included 27 eyes, and the EIFL group included 21 eyes. The mean follow-up duration was 25.5 months (range, 12-48 months). In the EIFL group, BCVA was decreased, and disruption length of the IS/OS junction and EIFL thickness were significantly increased during the follow-up period (p = 0.020, p = 0.048, and p = 0.040, respectively). There was a positive correlation between the change in BCVA and IS/OS junction disruption length in the EIFL group (r = 0.498, p = 0.022).