What is an Epiretinal Membrane?
Epiretinal Membrane is a disorder that arises when a thin layer of scar tissue accumulates on the surface of the macula, causing visual distortion.
What causes this?
Epiretinal Membrane is caused when the vitreous, which is the jelly/fluid part in the eye, pulls away from the retina.
Am I at risk?
It is more frequent over the age of 50, and can occur due to an eye surgery, inflammation or trauma.
How can I prevent Epiretinal Membrane?
There are no prevention techniques for Epiretinal Membrane, but it can be reduced by managing its underlying cause.
When do I know I am facing an Epiretinal Membrane?
If you are experiencing symptoms like loss of central vision, blurry or distorted vision, issues while recognising faces, and an appearance of wavy lines, you might have an Epiretinal Membrane.
Diagnosis and treatment
Epiretinal Membrane can be diagnosed with the help of:
- Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT): You are simply required to look into a lens while a machine takes images of the back of your eye, including your retina and macula.
- Fundus Fluorescein Angiography: An image is taken by a fundus camera to see any leakage in the epiretinal membrane.
There are several ways to treat Epiretinal Membrane, such as:
- Observation: If there is not much effect on the vision, the Epiretinal Membrane can be treated by simple monitoring.
- Vitrectomy surgery: Blood and other things that prevent light from reaching the retina are removed, along with the scar tissue that wrinkles or tears the retina.
Types of Epiretinal Membrane
Epiretinal Membrane can be of 3 different types based on its origin:
- Idiopathic ERM: This is the most common type and refers to the proliferation of different cells between the posterior vitreous cortex and the internal limiting membrane which causes blurriness, distortion, and scotoma.
- Primary ERM: This is also a common retinal disorder that is caused by the proliferation of glial tissue on the surface of the macula.
- Secondary ERM: This is associated with diabetic retinopathy, vascular disorders, retinal detachment surgery, retinal break, inflammation, etc.
Why visit AKIO for Epiretinal Membrane?
AK Institute of Ophthalmology uses state-of-the-art technologies and offers several types of treatments for conditions that affect the retina, including:
- Observation: If there is not much effect on the vision, a simple observation and regular monitoring can help in managing the Epiretinal Membrane.
- Vitrectomy surgery: Blood and other things that prevent light from reaching the retina are removed, along with the scar tissue that wrinkles or tears the retina.
