EPIRETINAL MEMBRANE

What is an Epiretinal membrane?
An Epiretinal membrane is a thin layer of scar tissue which grows on the surface of the retina. Often, it grows over the central part of the retina, the macula (the area used for central vision.)

Why does the scar tissue interfere with vision?
The scar tissue may contract, causing the retina to wrinkle. This may cause some visual loss, as well as distorted or double vision.

What causes it to form?
There are several common causes:
• It may occur in an otherwise healthy eye, as a result of posterior vitreous detachment (PVD), a normal aging change in the eye
• It may be the result of inflammation or infection in the eye
• It may be associated with retinal blood vessel problems
• It may be a result of trauma to the eye

TREATMENT
What is the recommended treatment?
In a case where vision is not significantly disturbed, and the patient is not bothered by visual symptoms, the physician may recommend no treatment. It is not harmful to the retina to leave this tissue, as long as it is not pulling up on the retina and causing swelling to occur.

Without surgical treatment, approximately:
• 10% of patients will eventually have some visual improvement
• 65% of patients will have vision that remains about the same
• 25% of patients will experience a decrease in visual acuity

If visual loss or distortion is significant, surgery may be recommended.

What is involved in this type of surgery?
Fine instruments are inserted into the eye and used to pick up the membrane and gently peel it from the surface of the retina. The surgery is performed on an out-patient basis—no overnight stay is required. It is performed under local anesthesia.

What can I expect if surgery is performed?
In 95% of cases, vision usually improves slowly after surgery, with most improvement coming within the first several months. In about 5% of cases, the vision does not improve.

Will surgery bring my vision back to normal?
Vision usually does not improve to normal. Average improvement is approximately 50%.

What are the possible complications of surgery?
The most common complication is an acceleration of cataract formation. 50% of patients require cataract removal sooner that they would have if surgery had not been performed. Much less common (less that 5%) complications include retinal tears, retinal detachment and infection. Vision-losing complications are rare.

[Go back]