Epiretinal membrane

You don't need to be Editor-In-Chief to add or edit content to WikiDoc. You can begin to add to or edit text on this WikiDoc page by clicking on the edit button at the top of this page. Next enter or edit the information that you would like to appear here. Once you are done editing, scroll down and click the Save page button at the bottom of the page.

Epiretinal membrane Classification and external resources
Human eye cross-sectional view. Courtesy NIH National Eye Institute
ICD-9	362.56
DiseasesDB	31161
eMedicine	oph/396
MeSH	D019773

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Phone:617-525-6884

Please Take Over This Page and Apply to be Editor-In-Chief for this topic: There can be one or more than one Editor-In-Chief. You may also apply to be an Associate Editor-In-Chief of one of the subtopics below. Please mail us [2] to indicate your interest in serving either as an Editor-In-Chief of the entire topic or as an Associate Editor-In-Chief for a subtopic. Please be sure to attach your CV and or biographical sketch.

An Amsler grid, as it might be viewed by a person with very severe Macular pucker. Most cases of Epiretinal membrane are milder and show much smoother curved lines.

Overview

Epiretinal membrane is a disease of the eye in response to changes in the vitreous humor or more rarely, diabetes. It is also called macular pucker. Sometimes, as a result of immune system response to protect the retina, cells converge in the macular area as the vitreous ages and pulls away in posterior vitreous detachment (PVD). PVD can create minor damage to the retina, stimulating exudate, inflammation, and leucocyte response. These cells can form a transparent layer gradually and, like all scar tissue, tighten to create tension on the retina which may bulge and pucker (e.g. macular pucker), or even cause swelling or Macular edema. Often this results in distortions of vision that are clearly visible as bowing and blurring when looking at lines on chart paper (or an Amsler grid) within the macular area, or central 1.0 degree of visual arc. Usually it occurs in one eye first, and the distortions create binocular diplopia or double vision. The distortions can make objects look different in size (usually larger = macropsia), especially in the central portion of the visual field, creating a localized or field dependent aniseikonia that cannot be fully corrected optically with glasses. Partial correction often improves the binocular vision considerably though. In the young (under 50 years of age), these cells occasionally pull free and disintegrate on their own; but in the majority of sufferers (over 60 years of age) the condition is permanent. The underlying photoreceptor cells, rod cells and cone cells, are usually not damaged unless the membrane becomes quite thick and hard; so usually there is no macular degeneration.

Surgery for epiretinal membrane

Surgeons can remove or peel the membrane through the sclera and improve vision by 2 or more Snellen lines. Usually the vitreous is replaced at the same time with clear fluid, in a vitrectomy. Surgery is not usually recommended unless the distortions are severe enough to interfere with daily living, since there are the usual hazards of surgery, infections, and a possibility of retinal detachment. A more common complication is high intraocular pressure, bleeding in the eye, and Cataract, which is the most frequent complication of vitrectomy surgery. Many patients will develop a cataract within the first few years after surgery. In fact, the visual distortions and diplopia created by cataracts may sometimes be confused with epiretinal membrane.

Prevention

There is no good evidence for any preventative actions to take, since it appears this is a natural response to aging changes in the vitreous that happen to everyone. It is important to remember that posterior vitreous detachment PVD has been estimated to have occurred in over 75 per cent of the population over 65, that PVD is essentially a harmless condition although with some disturbing symptoms and that it does not normally threaten sight. However, since epiretinal membrane appears to be a protective response to PVD, where inflammation, exudative fluid, and scar tissue is formed, it is possible that NSAIDS may reduce the inflammation response, so taking NSAIDS may be helpful. Usually there are flashing light experiences and the emergence of floaters in the eye that herald changes in the vitreous before the epiretinal membrane forms.

Science background

This ocular pathology was first described by Iwanoff in 1865, and it has been shown to occur in about 7% of the population. It can occur more frequently in the older population with postmortem studies showing it in 2% of those aged 50 years and 20% in those aged 75 years.

The source of the cells in epiretinal membranes (ERM) has been found to comprise glial cells, retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells, macrophages, fibrocytes, and collagen cells. These cells are found in varying proportions. Those from retinal breaks, previous retinal detachments, or cryopexy are composed mainly of dispersed RPE cells, while cells of glial origin predominate in idiopathic pathology.

The incidence of associated PVD range from 75-93%, and PVD is present in virtually all eyes with retinal breaks or retinal detachments and subsequent ERM formation. PVD can lead to retinal breaks that may liberate RPE cells that initiate membrane formation. Small breaks in the ILM after PVD also may provide retinal astrocytes access to the vitreous cavity, where they may subsequently proliferate. Finally, vitreous hemorrhage, inflammation, or both associated with a PVD also may stimulate ERM formation.

Both sexes appear to be affected in relatively equal percentages.

Synonyms

Macular pucker, preretinal membrane, cellophane maculopathy, retina wrinkle, surface wrinkling retinopathy, premacular fibrosis, and internal limiting membrane disease.

External links

• Macular Pucker Resource Guide from the National Eye Institute (NEI).
• Epiretinal membrane, Handbook of Ocular Disease management
• Epiretinal membrane - Macular Pucker, St Luke's Cataract and Laser Institute
• Treatment of Epiretinal Membrane, Mayo Clinic
• Epiretinal membrane peeling, EyeMDLink.com

References

• de Wit GC (2007). "Retinally-induced aniseikonia". Binocul Vis Strabismus Q 22 (2): 96–101. PMID 17688418.

• Benson WE, Brown GC, Tasman W, McNamara JA (1988). "Complications of vitrectomy for non-clearing vitreous hemorrhage in diabetic patients". Ophthalmic Surg 19 (12): 862–4. PMID 3231410.

• Suami M, Mizota A, Hotta Y, Tanaka M (2007). "Pattern VEPs before and after idiopathic epiretinal membrane removal". Doc Ophthalmol 114 (2): 67–73. doi:10.1007/s10633-006-9039-4. PMID 17216518.

• Dev S, Mieler WF, Pulido JS, Mittra RA (1999). "Visual outcomes after pars plana vitrectomy for epiretinal membranes associated with pars planitis". Ophthalmology 106 (6): 1086–90. doi:10.1016/S0161-6420(99)90247-6. PMID 10366075.

• Johnson MW (2005). "Perifoveal vitreous detachment and its macular complications". Trans Am Ophthalmol Soc 103: 537–67. PMID 17057817.

See also

• Eye surgery

it:Membrana epiretinica nl:Epiretinaal membraan

Acknowledgement and Attribution Regarding Sources of Content

Some of the initial content on this page may be incorporated in part from copyleft sources in the public domain including wikis such as Wikipedia and AskDrWiki. Drug information for patients came from the The National Library of Medicine. Infectious disease information may have come from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Differential Diagnoses are drawn from clinicians as well as an amalgamation of 3 sources: 1.The Disease Database; 2. Kahan, Scott, Smith, Ellen G. In A Page: Signs and Symptoms. Malden, Massachusetts: Blackwell Publishing, 2004:3; 3. Sailer, Christian, Wasner, Susanne. Differential Diagnosis Pocket. Hermosa Beach, CA: Borm Bruckmeir Publishing LLC, 2002:7 .