Epiretinal Membrane

An epiretinal membrane is a thin layer of scar-like tissue that forms on the surface of the retina at the macula, causing blurred or distorted central vision.

Common symptoms

Blurred central vision, straight lines appearing wavy or bent, difficulty reading, and sometimes a mild reduction in how bright colours appear.

Description

An epiretinal membrane forms when cells grow across the surface of the macula and contract like cling film, pulling on the retina beneath. The wrinkling of the retina is what distorts vision, particularly for fine detail.

Many epiretinal membranes develop with age or after changes to the vitreous gel inside the eye, but they can also follow retinal tears, inflammation, or previous eye surgery. Symptoms often develop slowly, and mild cases may cause little trouble.

Mild epiretinal membranes are usually just monitored. When vision is more significantly affected, a surgical procedure called vitrectomy with membrane peel can be offered to remove the membrane, often leading to improved vision over the following months.