PREDICTIVE FACTORS OF SPONTANEOUS RELEASE OF VITREOMACULAR TRACTION: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

PURPOSE: To review predictive factors of spontaneous vitreomacular traction (VMT) release.

METHODS

A systematic literature search was performed on Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Library. Studies comparing spontaneously released VMT to persistent VMT were included. A meta-analysis was performed using a random effects model, and weighted mean difference, risk ratio (RR), and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were reported as appropriate.

RESULTS

Of a search of 258 studies, 12 studies were included, from which 272 of 934 eyes (29%) underwent spontaneous release. Mean age was 70.0 years, 37.2% of patients were men, and mean follow-up was 22.0 months. Significant predictive factors for spontaneous release were smaller VMT diameter (n = 177; weighted mean difference = -212.48 µm, 95% CI = [-417.36, -7.60], P = 0.04), epiretinal membrane absence (n = 162; RR = 2.17, 95% CI = [1.18, 3.97], P = 0.01), and right eye involvement (n = 76; RR = 2.10, 95% CI = [1.14, 3.88], P = 0.02). Nonsignificant factors were age, initial best-corrected visual acuity, sex, ocular comorbidity, fellow-eye posterior vitreous detachment, previous intravitreal injection, and VMT classification with focal defined as ≤400 µm. Mean release time was 15.3 months (n = 212). Mean best-corrected visual acuity improved from 0.34 ± 0.21 (Snellen 20/44) to 0.20 ± 0.58 logMAR (Snellen 20/32) postrelease (n = 121).

CONCLUSION

Smaller VMT diameter, epiretinal membrane absence, and right eye involvement may support spontaneous VMT release. If patients have tolerable symptoms, clinicians may consider observation in patients with these predictive factors.