Purpose:
To assess central macular function by preferential hyperacuity perimetry (PHP) in patients with idiopathic epiretinal membrane (ERM).
Materials and Methods:
Patients diagnosed to have idiopathic ERM were enrolled in the study. After a detailed ophthalmological examination, all participants were evaluated by optical coherence tomography (OCT). Central 14°x14° visual field was tested by PHP (Foresee PHP, Notalvision); hyperacuity deviation map and hyperacuity defect maps were recorded. Pa-tients having high false positive or false negative ratios were excluded.
Results:
Fifteen eyes of 12 patients with a mean age of 63.9±7.4 years and a mean visual acuity of 0.7±0.2 were recruited in the study. Mean central macular thickness was found to be 334.4±72.1 by OCT. In hyperacutiy deviation map, significant visual field defect was detec-ted in 9 eyes whereas it was entirely normal in 6 eyes. When the eyes with and without visual field defect were compared, we found a statistically significant difference in mean visual acuity (p=0.005 Mann-Whitney U test); however there was no statistically significant difference in mean central macular thickness measured by OCT (p= 0.689 Mann-Whitney U test).
Conclusion:
In idiopathic ERM patients central macular function may be monitored by PHP. Especially in idiopathic ERM patients having low visual acuity a prominent visual field defect was detected by PHP
Keywords: Idiopathic epiretinal membrane, preferential hyperacuity perimetry (PHP), optical coherence tomography (OCT)