Abstract: Objective We monitored and investigated the correlation between the thickness of the macular ganglion cell complex(mGCC)and the ratio of deep to superficial vessel density(DSFR)in patients with idiopathic epiretinal membrane(iERM). Methods A retrospective, non-randomized, and controlled clinical study was conducted. Twenty-four patients diagnosed with monocular iERM at the Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University were included in the experimental group, with the normal contralateral eyes serving as the control group. Retinal thickness in the macular fovea, para-fovea, and peripheral area was measured by optical coherence tomography(OCT). In contrast, the thickness of the mGCC was measured using the GCC mode of OCT. The vessel density of the superficial retinal capillary plexus(SCP)and deep retinal capillary plexus(DCP)in the macular area was measured by optical coherence tomography angiography(OCTA). The DSFR was recorded using an ETDRS-GRIDrid recording. Statistical differences and correlations of the above parameters between the iERM and control groups were analyzed. Results OCT-related and mGCC-related parameters in the iERM group differed significantly from those in the contralateral eye control group(all P<0.05). The parafovea DSFR(pPrDSFR)of the experimental group was significantly correlated with the average GCC, Superior GCC, and Inferior GCC(r=-0.308, r=-0.263, and r=-0.307, respectively; all P<0.05). The fovea DSFR FDSFR was significantly correlated with the thickness of the Inferior GCC(r=-0.380, P<0.01). While the thickness of the average GCC was not significantly correlated with superficial vessel density(SVD)SVD and deep vessel densityDVD; however, the thickness of the Superior GCC was correlated with the foveal vessel densityFVD of the DCP, and the thickness of the Inferior GCC was correlated with SVD. D-MVR was significantly correlated with the average GCC thickness, superior GCC, inferior GCC, and prDSFR(r=0.434, r=0.521, r=0.341, r=0.295, all P<0.05). Conclusion We observed that prDSFR and D-MVR were significantly correlated with the thickness of the average GCC and that the prDSFR was also significantly correlated with D-MVR, suggesting a significant relationship between the structural changes in the macular area of iERM and vessel density.

Key words: Idiopathic epiretinal membrane, Macular ganglion cell complex, Vessel density, Deep to superficial vessel density, Correlation