epiretinal membrane information

Some of the questions and answers people often ask about eye problems. This page deals with epiretinal membrane and associated problems.

What is an epiretinal membrane?

An epiretinal membrane is a condition which affects the macula. The macula is part of the retina and the retina is the light sensitive membrane in the eye. In many ways the retina is similar to the film in a camera.
The macula is the part of the retina with which you are reading this information. It is the part of the retina that provides you with the most sensitive vision. An epiretinal membrane occurs when a layer of scar tissue develops on the surface of the macula. This scar tissue then contracts. In contracting it crumples up the retina. The effect is similar to crumpling up the film in a camera.

Is this macular degeneration?

No. An epiretinal membrane is not a feature of macular degeneration

Who gets epiretinal membranes?

Most epiretinal membranes have no serious cause. They may also arise as a result of inflammation (uveitis) within the eye, laser or freezing treatment to the eye in order to prevent a retinal detachment; and in a small proportion of cases as a complication of otherwise successful retinal detachment surgery.

How does an epiretinal membrane affect your vision?

The effect of an epiretinal membrane could be likened to the effect of crumpling up the film in a camera.
Firstly, the quality of the image is very poor.
Secondly, the image becomes distorted, straight objects such as lampposts and window frames may develop a kink.
Thirdly, it is not unusual for patients to develop a central missing patch in their vision.
Fourthly, both colours and the brightness of an image tend to be reduced in patients with an epiretinal membrane.
In many ways this could be compared to turning down the colour and brightness on your television. Epiretinal membranes tend to affect one eye at a time. Many people with an epiretinal membrane are very aware that the poorer eye interferes with or gets in the way of the better eye. As a result, even though the epiretinal membrane only affects one eye, the vision with both eyes open can be very unsettled. Some people go as far as covering, or closing, one eye in order to get over this effect.

What happens to an epiretinal membrane if it is not treated?

Most epiretinal membranes do not go away on their own. The good news, however, is that in most cases the problem is stable.
Only about 1 in 10 people will suffer progressive deterioration in their vision as a consequence of an epiretinal membrane. Epiretinal membranes only affect the central part of vision and as such, patients suffering from them do not go blind

Can I get an epiretinal membrane in my other eye?

Yes, this is possible, but fairly rare. There are some circumstances in which we are able to say that development of an epiretinal membrane is very unlikely to occur in the other eye. This relies on the result of an examination of the vitreous jelly within the eye.