Optimizing Visualization of Membranes in Macular Surgery With Heads-Up Display.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To determine which optical parameter profiles (OPPs) can be utilized to improve the visualization of epiretinal membranes (ERMs) and the internal limiting membrane (ILM) using a three-dimensional heads-up microscope during 25-gauge pars plana vitrectomy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fourteen independent graders were asked to complete a questionnaire comparing each of the OPPs against the unaltered control image for each given surgical case. RESULTS: Analysis of the graders' responses indicated that higher values of hue are correlated with better visualization of ERM/ILM before and after dye application. There was overall agreement that OPPs could be used to enhance the visualization of the ERM and ILM during surgery. CONCLUSIONS: The use of OPPs to improve the visualization of specific structures is still new and heavily dependent on surgeon preference. The authors' study shows that some OPPs may enhance the visualization of the ERM and ILM during macular surgery.