To determine the influence of morphologic classification based on optical coherence tomography (OCT) on epiretinal membrane (ERM) surgery outcomes.

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 77 eyes with ERM treated by vitrectomy with ERM peeling. By using OCT, the preoperative ERM was classified into four types: diffuse (DIF), cystoids macular edema (CME), pseudolamellar hole (PLH), and vitreomacular traction (VMT). The postoperative changes of central macular thickness (CMT) and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) were compared.

Approximately six months postoperatively, the DIF type had the best BCVA for both idiopathic and secondary ERM, followed by the PLH, CME, and VMT types. On the other hand, regarding the mean BCVA improvement, the VMT type was the best, followed by the DIF, PLH, and CME types. When comparing the difference in BCVA improvement by each type, idiopathic ERM showed a clearer distinction when the inner segment/outer segment (IS/OS) junction was not disrupted.

BCVA improvement was significantly different depending on the morphologic classification of ERM by using OCT. Especially in cases of ERM with an intact IS/OS junction, the morphologic classification can help predict surgical outcomes.