The Increased Epiretinal Membrane Frequency in Patients with Glaucomatous Optic Atrophy.

Purpose: To investigate the epiretinal membrane (ERM) frequency in patients with glaucomatous optic atrophy (GOA). Materials and Methods: Medical records of patients with GOA were investigated. The macular ERM was assessed using high definition images obtained from enhanced depth optical coherence tomography (OCT) and evaluated according to Hwang's classification. Outer macular thickness, inward projection of outer layers and cystic changes were assessed. Age, gender, and findings of OCT were assessed and logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate possible factors which can cause ERM. Comparison between eyes with and without ERM in terms of OCT findings was also investigated. Results: Eighty-eight eyes of 68 patients were included in the sample. The mean age for patients was 70.13±9.43 years. Types of glaucoma were primary open angle glaucoma in 61 eyes, primary closed angle glaucoma in 7 eyes and pseudoexfoliative glaucoma in 20 eyes. The history of ocular surgery was present in 55 eyes. Out of 88 eyes, 45 (51.1%) was diagnosed as ERM, and 15 eyes (17.04%) were type 1A, 17 eyes (19.31%) type 1B, 8 eyes (9.09%) type 1C and 5 eyes (5.68%) type 2B according to Hwang's classification. Age and presence of previous surgeries were not found as statistically significant (p:0.054, p:0.277, respectively). Vertical cup to disc ratio (c/d) was larger in eyes with ERM (p:0.049). Conclusion: The frequency of ERM in patients with GOA was found to be 51.1 % and vertical c/d ratio was higher in these patients. This unique result was independent of potential influential factors such as age and history of previous surgeries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]