Observational studyInvestigative ophthalmology & visual science2026
Early Functional Biomarkers of Idiopathic Epiretinal Membrane Progression: A 24-Month Prospective Observational Study.
Observational study in Investigative ophthalmology & visual science, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Authors and funding
13 authors.
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Abstract
Purpose: To identify early functional biomarkers of progression in idiopathic epiretinal membrane (iERM) eyes managed conservatively, with particular emphasis on near-vision performance. Methods: In this prospective cohort study, 60 eyes with iERM and non-cataractous phakic lenses were examined at baseline, 12 months, and 24 months. Functional assessments included distance best-corrected visual acuity (distance BCVA, logMAR), near best-corrected visual acuity (near BCVA, logMAR), reading acuity (RA), critical print size (CPS), and maximum reading speed (MaxRS), all obtained using standardized protocols. Structural imaging included spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) with retinal layer segmentation and en face A-zone area quantification. Eyes were classified as non-, slow, or fast progressors based on a letter loss of ≤5, 6 to 9, or ≥10 (or surgery) in distance BCVA. Available case analyses were performed (n = 58 at 12 months; n = 52 at 24 months). Results: Distance BCVA showed small mean changes at 12 months (+8.3%) and 24 months (+12.1%), reaching statistical significance only in fast progressors (P < 0.001). Near BCVA demonstrated larger variations (+16.7% at 12 months; +25.0% at 24 months), with significant worsening in slow and fast progressors. Reading measures showed earlier and more pronounced decline: RA increased by +16.7% at 12 months and +25.0% at 24 months, CPS enlarged by +21.7% and +30.4%, and MaxRS decreased by -22.4% and -35.7%, respectively, with the greatest deterioration in fast progressors. A-zone enlargement (β = 0.42, P < 0.001) and inner nuclear layer thickening (β = 0.36, P = 0.008) independently predicted CPS worsening, whereas central macular thickness and ellipsoid-zone disruption predicted distance BCVA decline. Conclusions: Near-vision parameters capture early functional deterioration in iERM more sensitively than distance BCVA or thickness-based OCT metrics. Incorporating near-vision performance into routine monitoring may improve detection of functional progression and complement longitudinal clinical monitoring.
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