A study compared postoperative epiretinal membrane (ERM) formation after fovea-sparing internal limiting membrane peeling (FSIP) versus standard internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling in 206 eyes undergoing vitrectomy for myopic traction maculopathy (MTM). Postoperative ERM developed in 7.8% of eyes at 12 months. The incidence was significantly higher with FSIP (17.4%) than with standard ILM peeling (5.0%), and FSIP was associated with a 4-fold higher odds of postoperative ERM.
However, most ERMs in both groups were mild (stage 1 or 2), none required reoperation, and 12-month visual acuity did not differ significantly between eyes with and without ERM. Notably, postoperative macular hole occurred less often after FSIP (2.2% vs 12.8%), although the difference did not reach statistical significance. These findings suggest that while FSIP may increase postoperative ERM risk, the…
