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Epiretinal membrane formation following laser photocoagulation for peripheral retinal degeneration: incidence and risk factors

Eye volume 39, pages 2768–2773 (2025)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Purpose

Laser photocoagulation remains the most common treatment for peripheral retinal degeneration. However, potential side effects, particularly inflammation and gliosis, raise concerns about an increased risk of epiretinal membrane (ERM) formation. This study aims to further investigate the association between laser photocoagulation and ERM formation and identify associated risk factors.

Methods

This retrospective study included patients who underwent retinal laser photocoagulation for peripheral retinal degeneration. Clinical data including medical history, ophthalmic examinations during follow-up, and details of the laser photocoagulation, were recorded. Binary regression analysis was used to assess risk factors for ERM formation, including age, ocular findings, and laser parameters.

Results

Among the 726 eyes, 32 eyes (4.41%) developed ERM during a follow-up period of 29.7 ± 17.2 months. Risk factors included older age (53.9 ± 11.1 vs. 36.6 ± 17.3 years, P < 0.001), presence of lattice degeneration (62.5% vs. 40.3%, P < 0.001), greater number of laser spots (390.1 ± 171.9 vs. 284.8 ± 156.4, P < 0.001), higher total laser energy (22.5 ± 10.8J vs. 13.6 ± 11.9J, P < 0.001), wider extent of laser coverage (4.47 ± 3.38 vs. 3.08 ± 2.10 clock hours, P = 0.028), and shorter distance between the laser and the fovea (7.50 ± 1.72 vs. 8.36 ± 2.16 disc diameters, P = 0.017). Further regression analysis identified age (OR 1.071, 95% CI 1.040–1.102), number of laser spots (OR 1.003, 95% CI 1.001–1.005), and extent of laser coverage (OR 1.178, 95% CI 1.025–1.354) as independent risk factors for ERM development.

Conclusions

Peripheral retinal laser photocoagulation does not significantly increase the incidence of ERM. However, careful control of the number and extent of laser applications may help minimize potential damage to the macula.

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All of the data and materials will be available upon request to the corresponding author.

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Funding

This study was supported by the Funding from the Shantou Science and Technology Plan Project (No. 221113086496943), and the Special Support Plan in Guangdong Province for Young Top Talents in Science and Technology Innovation

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Joint Shantou International Eye Center of Shantou University and The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shantou, Guangdong, China

    Biyao Xie, Yingjia Lin, Chiyu Lin, Xuna Qiu, Dezhi Zheng, Dingguo Huang, Weiqi Chen & Zijing Huang

  2. Fifth Clinical Institute of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China

    Biyao Xie, Yingjia Lin, Chiyu Lin & Xuna Qiu

Authors
  1. Biyao Xie
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  2. Yingjia Lin
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  3. Chiyu Lin
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  4. Xuna Qiu
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  5. Dezhi Zheng
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  6. Dingguo Huang
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  7. Weiqi Chen
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  8. Zijing Huang
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Contributions

Conception of the work (Z Huang); Acquisition, analysis, and interpretation of data for the work (B Xie, Y Lin, C Lin, X Qiu, and D Zheng); Drafting the work (B Xie); Revising the work critically for important intellectual content (Z Huang); supervision (D Huang, W Chen, and Z Huang); Final approval of the version to be published (all authors).

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Zijing Huang.

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Competing interests

The authors declare no competing interests.

Ethics approval

This retrospective study was in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. The Human Investigation Committee (IRB) of Joint Shantou International Eye Center of Shantou University and The Chinese University of Hong Kong approved this study. The study was deemed exempt from informed consent due to its retrospective design.

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Xie, B., Lin, Y., Lin, C. et al. Epiretinal membrane formation following laser photocoagulation for peripheral retinal degeneration: incidence and risk factors. Eye 39, 2768–2773 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41433-025-03945-5

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