Background: The predictability of the measurement of the macular function by white light interferometry was evaluated in a group of patients whose epiretinal membranes had been surgically removed.
Method: Fifteen patients presenting either primitive or secondary epiretinal membranes were included. We used the apparatus described by W. Lotmar. The main evaluation criteria was the best corrected visual acuity (VA) chosen between the third month and the sixth month examinations.
Results: Preoperatively the mean visual acuity was 0.227 +/- 0.105. The mean final visual acuity was 0.507 +/- 0.198. The final visual acuity was predicted within an 0.1 interval in ten cases (67%). In two cases the predicted visual acuity was identical to the pre-operative VA and the final results confirmed the test. No improvement occurred.
Conclusion: The Lotmar visometer is statistically predictive of the visual outcome after epi-retinal membranes surgery.