Epiretinal Membrane

Epiretinal Membrane

An epiretinal membrane (Aka ERM, macular pucker) is a layer of tissue found on the inner surface of the retina, typically the macula (central vision), and causes distorted vision. 

• What is the cause of an epiretinal membrane?

  • Idiopathic (unknown cause) ERMs is the most common presentation.

  • Secondary ERMs occur in association with retinal vascular diseases including diabetic retinopathy, retinal vein occlusion, ocular inflammatory disease, trauma, intraocular surgery, intraocular tumors, and retinal tear or detachment.

• What are the risk factors?

  • Increased age (average age at diagnosis is 65)

  • Posterior vitreous detachment (when the gel that fills the eye shrinks and pulls away from the retina)

  • History of ERM in the fellow eye.

• What are the symptoms?​

  • Distorted vision

  • Blurred vision especially near vision 

  • Double vision in one eye

  • Vision in one eye that seems smaller than the other

  • The vast majority of patients with ERMs are asymptomatic.

• What are the treatments?​

  • Observation - as many patients are asymptomatic​

  • Surgical intervention if vision becomes symptomatic enough to affect your activities of daily living.