Fig. 1

Flowchart illustrating the allocation process. Patients were classified into four patterns according to the status of the residual internal limiting membrane (ILM) after epiretinal membrane removal (see methods). Patients with complete ILM peeling (pattern A) were allocated to Group 1 (involuntary peeling), while those with partially removed or intact ILM (pattern B to D) were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to Group 2 and 3 (active peeling and non-peeling of residual ILM, respectively). ILM internal limiting membrane, ERM epiretinal membrane, CRAO central retinal artery occlusion.