City Research Online

Abstract

Purpose
The aim of this work was to track tangential traction of idiopathic epiretinal membrane from an initial assessment to the immediate post-operative phase using an enhanced version of the relaxation index (RI).

Methods
A retrospective analysis was conducted on 9 patients who underwent peeling surgery for idiopathic, symptomatic, and progressive epiretinal membrane. The RI assesses the displacement of vascular crossings in time from a fixed point, which is the retinal pigmented epithelium. This updated iteration integrates infrared images paired with OCT scans instead of OCTA.

Results
The study encompassed three timepoints: T1 (initial appointment), T2 (1 week pre-surgery), and Post (1 month post-surgery). T1 was 12± 9 months prior to surgery. A statistically significant difference (p<0.001) in RI was observed across all three timepoints; however, there was no significant correlation between RI and visual acuity (p>0.05).

Conclusion
The RI emerges as a comprehensive and direct parameter for objectively assessing and monitoring tangential traction in three dimensions across an extensive area of the posterior pole. Further streamlining of the process is necessary to integrate this feature into clinical practice effectively.

Publication Type:	Article
Additional Information:	Copyright © 2025 Allegrini, Raimondi, Montesano, Caruso, Lionetti, Carnevali, Sorrentino, Scorcia and Romano. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
Publisher Keywords:	relaxation index, epiretinal membrane, tangential traction, vitreoretinal surgery, infrared image
Subjects:	R Medicine > RE Ophthalmology
Departments:	School of Health & Medical Sciences School of Health & Medical Sciences > Department of Optometry & Visual Science
SWORD Depositor:	Symplectic Administrator

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