Discover how this latest no-stitch surgery can give you clearer vision with a faster recovery than traditional techniques
An epiretinal membrane is a very thin layer of fibrous tissue that can form on the surface of your retina (the focusing surface at the back of your eye). It can act as a film over your macula (the sharp focusing area of the retina) through which it is harder for you to see. In severe cases, the epiretinal membrane may contract like scar tissue, ‘puckering’ the retina and distorting your vision further.
Not all epiretinal membranes require treatment. If your vision is only mildly affected, surgery may not be the right option.
When surgery is required, the procedure involved is called a vitrectomy.
Your surgeon will remove the vitreous gel (the jelly-like substance inside your eye) using highly specialised instruments.
The epiretinal membrane is then carefully detached from the surface of your retina.
Advantages
- Improvement in vision.
- Reduced distortions and wavy lines on the Amsler grid.
Disadvantages
- The treatment carries certain risks mentioned below.
Risks include:
- Early cataract formation
- Retinal tear
- Macular oedema or haemorrhage
Treatment options include vitrectomy and membrane peel.
What to expect from the procedure
Before your surgery, you’ll be given a local anaesthetic to numb your eye so you don’t feel any pain.
Your surgeon will use the latest ‘no-stitch’ surgical techniques to make tiny incisions in the white of your eye. This type of surgery means your eye will heal faster, and you should feel virtually no irritation after surgery.
Your eye may also be treated with steroids, gas, laser or freezing treatments, depending on the exact situation.
After surgery, you should be able to go home almost straight away, and you can usually resume normal, non-strenuous activities the day after. You’ll need to wear a patch on your eye until the following morning, and we will give you eye drops and antibiotics to use for up to four weeks after surgery.
Most patients have better vision after epiretinal membrane surgery, and regaining perfect vision isn’t unusual. Still, it does not always go back to completely normal. It can take three to 12 months for your vision to improve fully. How much and how soon your vision improves after surgery depends on several things. Primarily, your age and how far the epiretinal membrane has advanced.
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Our industry-leading experts are here to guide you every step of the way
Dr Mantell is a specialist in refractive and cataract surgery. He has restored the vision of thousands of people in his 17-year career.
Dr Ring is an expert in cornea, cataract and refractive surgery.
Dr Subbiah is a cataract, corneal and laser surgery specialist.
Dr Watson specialises in treating many aspects of the eye, including the face, eyelids, tear drainage system and the cornea.
Professor Danesh-Meyer is an international authority on glaucoma and neuro-ophthalmology and one of the most highly regarded experts in her field.
Professor Charles McGhee, a Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon for 25 years, specialises in corneal diseases and cataract surgery.
Dr Cunningham is a consultant ophthalmologist who specialises in cataract surgery and vitreoretinal surgery.
Dr Dean is a consultant ophthalmologist. His areas of expertise include cataract surgery, corneal surgery and pterygium surgery.
Dr Hadden specialises in vitreoretinal and cataract surgery, including the treatment of intraocular tumours.
Dr Narme Deva is a key opinion leader for Medical retina and Uveitis in New Zealand.
Dr Elizabeth Insull is a New Zealand and UK trained Oculoplastic and Ophthalmic surgeon.
Dr Matheos is an ophthalmologist with subspecialist training in glaucoma and anterior segment surgery, cataract surgery and pterygium surgery.
Dr Beaumont is a general ophthalmologist. He specialises in surgical ophthalmology, medical ophthalmology and urgent eye trauma care.
Dr Meyer is a specialist eye surgeon specialising in cataracts, glaucoma, and corneal diseases and surgeries.
Dr Reeves has advanced training in the diagnosis and management of glaucoma. He offers a variety of laser and surgical treatments, including minimally invasive glaucoma surgery.
Dr Perumal is a New Zealand trained ophthalmologist with advanced training in glaucoma and cataract surgery.
Dr Mantell is a specialist in refractive and cataract surgery. He has restored the vision of thousands of people in his 17-year career.
LEARN MORE
Dr Ring is an expert in cornea, cataract and refractive surgery.
LEARN MORE
Dr Subbiah is a cataract, corneal and laser surgery specialist.
LEARN MORE
Dr Watson specialises in treating many aspects of the eye, including the face, eyelids, tear drainage system and the cornea.
LEARN MORE
Professor Danesh-Meyer is an international authority on glaucoma and neuro-ophthalmology and one of the most highly regarded experts in her field.
LEARN MORE
Professor Charles McGhee, a Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon for 25 years, specialises in corneal diseases and cataract surgery.
LEARN MORE
Dr Cunningham is a consultant ophthalmologist who specialises in cataract surgery and vitreoretinal surgery.
LEARN MORE
Dr Dean is a consultant ophthalmologist. His areas of expertise include cataract surgery, corneal surgery and pterygium surgery.
LEARN MORE
Dr Hadden specialises in vitreoretinal and cataract surgery, including the treatment of intraocular tumours.
LEARN MORE
Dr Narme Deva is a key opinion leader for Medical retina and Uveitis in New Zealand.
LEARN MORE
Dr Elizabeth Insull is a New Zealand and UK trained Oculoplastic and Ophthalmic surgeon.
LEARN MORE
Dr Matheos is an ophthalmologist with subspecialist training in glaucoma and anterior segment surgery, cataract surgery and pterygium surgery.
LEARN MORE
Dr Beaumont is a general ophthalmologist. He specialises in surgical ophthalmology, medical ophthalmology and urgent eye trauma care
LEARN MORE
Dr. Meyer is a specialist eye surgeon specialising in cataracts, glaucoma, and corneal diseases and surgeries.
LEARN MORE
Dr Reeves has advanced training in the diagnosis and management of glaucoma. He offers a variety of laser and surgical treatments, including minimally invasive glaucoma surgery.
LEARN MORE
Dr Perumal is a New Zealand trained ophthalmologist with advanced training in glaucoma and cataract surgery.
LEARN MORE
Learn more about treating retinal eye conditions from authoritative sources.
Epiretinal membranes are thin, transparent layers of fibrous tissues that form a film on the inner surface of the retina.
Epiretinal membranes (ERMs) most often occur in people over age 50. According to The American Society of Retina Specialists (ASRS), at least 2 percent of people over 50 years old and 20 percent over age 75 have ERMs, but most do not need treatment.
Up to 20 percent of people with ERMS have them in both eyes, but symptoms and severity for each eye differ.
ERMs, also commonly known as cellophane maculopathy or macular puckers, are avascular (having few or no blood vessels), semitranslucent, fibrocellular membranes that form on the inner surface of the retina. They most commonly cause minimal symptoms and can be simply observed, but in some cases they can result in painless loss of vision and metamorphopsia (visual distortion). Generally, ERMs are most symptomatic when affecting the macula, which is the central portion of the retina that helps us to distinguish fine detail used for reading and recognizing faces.
Epiretinal membrane is a very fine layer of scar tissue or membrane that has formed across the surface of the retina when the vitreous gel inside the eye has altered due to aging changes in the vitreous jelly and has caused an area of superficial irritation in the retina. It is the healing response which has caused this fine membrane to develop, which in turn, has shrunk slightly causing a mechanical wrinkling and distortion if the retina. In most patients there is very slow growth of this membrane which eventually stops growing.
These membranes are usually clear, and in many people do not produce any significant disturbance in vision. In some cases, over a period of time a thicker membrane may form, which then contracts and pulls on the retina, giving the retina a wrinkled appearance. When this happens, you may notice that your central vision becomes blurred with distortion in lines or letters.
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