Bibliometric analysis of research trends on the epiretinal membrane since 2000

Epiretinal membrane (ERM) is an important retinal disorder, yet its global research landscape has not been systematically evaluated. This study conducted a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of ERM-related publications indexed in the Web of Science Core Collection. Data were analyzed using CiteSpace, bibliometrix, VOSviewer, and the bibliometrix R package to assess publication trends, international collaboration, influential journals, and evolving research topics. A total of 1,059 articles published between 2000 and 2024 were included. The annual number of publications showed a steady increase, with the United States and other developed countries contributing the majority of research output. Journal analysis identified Retina-The Journal of Retinal and Vitreous Diseases as the leading outlet in terms of productivity. Keyword co-occurrence and co-citation analyses revealed that current research hotspots involve epidemiology, molecular mechanisms, imaging biomarkers associated with surgical outcomes, and the emerging use of artificial intelligence in diagnosis and prognosis prediction. These findings provide an integrated overview of ERM research development, highlight major thematic shifts, and offer valuable guidance for future investigations in this field.