An epiretinal membrane is a disease of the eye that involves the formation of an abnormal, thin membrane over the part of the eye called the macula. For this reason, an epiretinal membrane is often referred to as a macular pucker or scar across the central retina.
Epiretinal membranes can be thin enough to barely cause symptoms, but can also lead to vision problems. This is often because the membrane can get thick enough to exert force on the retina, which leads to it bulging or puckering.
Since the disease affects the macula – the part of the retina responsible for sharp vision – this can have serious effects, as you’ll see below.
Common Symptoms of Epiretinal Membranes
As noted earlier, it is possible for epiretinal membrane to not cause any symptoms. A good number of people have asymptomatic epiretinal membranes that also never get worse, in which case they are left alone.
However, there are also people whose epiretinal membranes cause issues. Common symptoms include blurring of central vision or distortion of images in that eye. This means that the affected person may see shapes that are normally straight, become noticeably crooked or wavy with this distortion, to the point where even a normal box or Rubik’s cube may look odd to the person.
It is worth noting that some of the symptoms of this condition are very similar to symptoms of other ocular diseases. Cataracts can produce similar symptoms, for example. A proper diagnosis can only come from an experienced eye doctor.
Causes of Epiretinal Membranes
Most epiretinal membranes are classified as idiopathic. This means that they seem to occur spontaneously or have no known cause.
We do know that a phenomenon called posterior vitreous detachment or PVD typically precedes the formation of epiretinal membranes. This happens when the vitreous – the gel-like substance in our eyes – shrinks and recedes with age.
For most people, PVD is asymptomatic and requires no treatment. It may cause a few flashes or floaters (spots floating across your field of vision) but even this tends to fade after a few weeks. When the vitreous separates from the retina, it allows cells to form on the retina surface and form this “scar”, which we refer to as the epiretinal membrane.
There are also cases where we can trace the development of the disease to certain factors. For example, secondary epiretinal membranes can often be seen after trauma to the eye or intraocular surgical procedures and lasers.
Furthermore, we know that epiretinal membranes are more likely in patients with certain conditions. These include prior retinal tears, diabetic retinopathy, and diseases affecting the vasculature of the retina.
However, we should clarify the answer to a commonly asked query here as well: Are epiretinal membranes hereditary? The answer is no. Proof does not yet exist to suggest that susceptibility to this disease is hereditary.
Treatment for Epiretinal Membrane
Many epiretinal membranes may progress slowly and not impact the patient’s vision, therefore they can be observed. However, if it is severe enough that it needs to be treated, then the only way to remove it is via a surgical procedure called a vitrectomy, performed by a vitreoretinal surgeon.
This is a procedure where the vitreous of your eye is removed, thus allowing the surgeon to access the retina. A thin forceps is then used to gently peel the membrane off the retina. After the surgery, usually clear fluid or a gas is left in the eye.
Generally, surgery is only indicated for severe epiretinal membrane cases. It is important to discuss with your retinal doctor about whether you will benefit from it.
Consult an eye doctor for epiretinal membranes
Now that you know the symptoms, causes, and treatment options for this condition, you should have a better idea of what it is. As we noted earlier, however, the best way to tell if you have an epiretinal membrane is still to see a professional eye doctor.
At our clinic, for instance, we can perform a number of evaluations to check whether or not you have this condition. Moreover, we can assess its severity to see if you need treatment and what treatment may be best for your case.
Even if you see none of the symptoms of epiretinal membrane, it’s better to be proactive about your eye health to be safe. With regular check-ups, you can detect not only this but a wide range of other eye diseases early on, before they even reach the severity at which permanent damage is possible.
