[Association of epiretinal membranes with macular edema in pars planitis].

INTRODUCTION: Pars planitis (PP) is a form of intermediate uveitis that manifests with several posterior segment complications, including cystoid macular edema (CME) and epiretinal membrane formation (ERM). On the presence of CME the patient is usually treated with anti-inflammatory and/or immunosuppressive drugs. However the presence of CME may coexist with ERM formation, and therefore the treatment could be different.

PURPOSE: To determine the association between ERM and CME in PP.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Case control series. The charts of patients diagnosed with PP were retrospectively reviewed. All patients had fluorescein angiogram (FA) and spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). Presence of ERM was determined by SD-OCT, while CME was determined by FA. Contingency tables were used to determine the risk of developing CME with ERM.

RESULTS: 31 eyes presented ERM. 16 eyes presented CME. Relative risk to have CME and ERM was 0.971, with a P value of 0.77 (χ(2)).

CONCLUSIONS: There is no association between ERM formation and the development of CME. There is no evidence to suggest a surgical approach as first line of treatment with the presence of ERM in PP.