Ayer

The trial investigates the best timing for vitrectomy surgery to remove symptomatic epiretinal membranes ERM, a common eye condition that can cause visual distortion. It aims to compare outcomes of immediate surgery versus deferred surgery when vision declines, and to identify predictors of visual outcomes and disease progression. The study also evaluates objective measures of metamorphopsia visual distortion and reading speed that have not been previously used in a randomized clinical trial for ERM. Participants are randomly assigned to one of two groups immediate vitrectomy surgery performed within one month of randomization, or deferred surgery where vitrectomy is delayed until certain vision decline criteria or symptoms worsen. Deferred surgery may be triggered by specific decreases in visual acuity or participant request. The study follows participants for 36 months to assess changes in visual acuity and other vision-related measures. Throughout the study, participants undergo regular eye examinations including visual acuity assessments and imaging with optical coherence tomography OCT to monitor changes in the epiretinal membrane and macular structure. Researchers measure the mean change in visual acuity letter score from baseline to 36 months as the primary outcome. The study also tracks visual distortion and reading speed to understand their usefulness in evaluating ERM. Safety and progression are closely monitored during the three-year follow-up period.