Epiretinal Membrane >>

• What is Retinal Membrane?
• Causes of Retinal Membrane
• Treatment for Retinal Membrane
• Procedure Steps

What is Retinal Membrane?

It is an extremely thin membrane that forms on the surface of the retina at the center of vision, representing a scar. The central vision in the retina allows us to see with the sharpest clarity, as happens during reading and driving. When a retinal membrane forms at the center of vision, it causes pulling and wrinkling of the retina, affecting vision, leading the person to see distortion and blurriness in the image.

Causes of Retinal Membrane

• In most cases, there is no clear cause for the formation of the retinal membrane, and the problem develops with age. The cause may be diabetic retinopathy, retinal tear, vein occlusion, or retinal inflammation. The retinal membrane can appear in one or both eyes, but it often appears in one eye, especially in older individuals. Some studies indicate that it affects 10% of people over the age of 60.

Treatment for Retinal Membrane

• The only available treatment for a retinal membrane is surgical treatment. The need for surgery is determined based on the severity of symptoms and their relation to the retinal membrane, as well as other eye problems such as cataracts. The need for surgery is determined based on symptoms of vision distortion.

  The goal of the surgery is to remove the retinal membrane, stabilize the level of vision, and reduce symptoms, but it does not lead to a significant improvement in vision.

Procedure Steps

• The procedure is done under local anesthesia and is usually completed in one day.
  The eye is covered after the procedure for a full day.
  In some cases, the doctor may inject gas into the eye to support the retina, which can cause blurred vision for several weeks, but the gas is absorbed over time.
  Medical eye drops are required after the surgery.
  The first follow-up visit at the clinic is usually within a month of the procedure.