Eye Clinic Tokyo has prepared content that will help you to understand of various eye diseases.
This time, it’s about the epiretinal membrane.
■epiretinal membrane
【Disease】
Epiretinal membrane is also known as epimacular membrane, surface-wrinkling retinopathy, cellophane maculopathy, and preretinal macular fibrosis.
An epiretinal membrane (ERM) is a fibrocellular tissue found on the inner surface of the retina. It is semi-translucent and proliferates on the surface of the internal limiting membrane.
The macula is located in the center of the retina and plays an important role in clear vision and processing of detailed visual information.
【Symptoms】
The vast majority of patients with ERMs are asymptomatic at early stage. As the disease progresses, the membranes shrink and wrinkles form on the retina, leading to symptoms such as poor vision, distorted vision, and double vision.
There is a self-checking tool called the “Amsler chart” to check whether lines look wavy or distorted.
- 1．Hold the Amsler chart about 30-40 cm away from your eyes.
- 2．Look at the black dot in the center of the sheet with one eye at a time.
- 3．Check if any lines are distorted or missing.
If the parts of the Amsler chart that are away from the center point appear distorted, there may be an abnormality. Missing or overlapping grid lines are also signs of abnormality.
【Cause】
The main cause is age-related changes in the retina and vitreous body. Because posterior vitreous detachment that occurs with aging is related to the pathology, it is a common disease among middle-aged and elderly people, especially those in their 50s to 70s.
There are also secondary cases that occur after a retinal tear, after retinal detachment surgery, or due to uveitis.
【Treatment】
If subjective symptoms are mild, follow-up with regular check-ups. If the disease progresses and there are severe symptoms or progressive loss of vision, vitrectomy is performed. After surgery to remove the vitreous, the jelly substance inside the eye, the membrane on the surface of the retina is removed with small tweezers.
The timing of surgery for the epiretinal membrane is difficult, and if it is a disease that progresses rapidly like a retinal detachment and causes blindness if left untreated, surgery must be performed immediately. Basically, it is often slow, and it progresses gradually over several years to a dozen years, so the timing of surgery is often decided after consultation between the surgeon and the patient.
If the symptoms have progressed and are affecting your daily life, early surgery is necessary, and by performing surgery at the appropriate time, you may be able to expect improvement in your vision.
【Summary】
If symptoms of epiretinal membrane appear, it is important to consult an ophthalmologist as soon as possible and receive appropriate diagnosis and treatment. An ophthalmologist will evaluate the patient’s condition and determine the best treatment and timing of surgery. Early diagnosis and treatment are important because there is a high possibility that early treatment will lead to maintenance and improvement of vision.