Clinical and Functional State of the Visual Analyzer after Surgery for the Epiretinal Membrane from the Standpoint of the Relevance of Postoperative Rehabilitation

Purpose: to study the clinical and functional state of the visual analyzer of patients after surgery for the epiretinal membrane (ERM) from the standpoint of the relevance of postoperative rehabilitation.

Patients and methods. There were 158 patients under observation (158 eyes, main group, MG), among whom 66 % were men, 34 % were women aged 45–74 years (the average age of patients was 62.4 ± 1.5 years) with a diagnosis of ERM. At the same time, the leading form of ERM was idiopathic (122 patients, 77.2 %). As a control group (CG), were examined 32 patients of equal age and gender, who did not have visual organ pathology. In order to remove ERM, all patients underwent subtotal posterior vitrectomy with intraoperative administration of antioxidants, in particular glutathione contained in a balanced salt solution “BSS-PLUS” (Bausch + Lomb, USA). A comprehensive examination of the clinical and functional state of the visual analyzer was performed one month after surgery.

Results. The data obtained indicate that almost all the studied parameters revealed a significant deterioration in the MG compared to the CG with a fairly good anatomical effect (the thickness of the central retinal zone after the operation was 287.1 ± 11.6 μm). In particular, a decrease in the subjective indicator “Quality of life” (by 53.1 %), as well as a deterioration in the objective indicators of the critical frequency of flicker fusion, the magnitude of the electrical lability of the retina and the threshold of electrical sensitivity of the retina (by 36.2; 38.2 and 45, 5 % respectively).

Conclusions. A fairly good anatomical effect of vitreoretinal surgical intervention for ERM is accompanied (one month after the operation) by a significant decrease in the functional state of the visual analyzer. In order to restore vision more quickly, it seems advisable to conduct early postoperative rehabilitation (based on the complex use of physiotherapeutic effects and combined drug therapy) aimed at correcting functional disorders of the retina, which will lead to a decrease in the severity of characteristic complaints and an increase in the “Quality of life” of the patient.

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