Ο retina is a tunic that covers the back of the eye. Η macula is located in center of the retinaIt is the area that helps us to see small details such as letters, numbers and facial features clearly.
Η epiretinal membrane is a thin sheet of fibrous tissue that forms on the macula. It acts like a blurred film, through which it is difficult to see. Most of the time this film leads to traction, resulting in the creation of edema (fluid collection).
!["ERM1.jpg"]("https://www.gotzaridis.gr/images/ERM1.jpg") | !["ERM2.jpg"]("https://www.gotzaridis.gr/images/ERM2.jpg") |
Figure 1: Normal fundus image (left) and with epiretinal membrane (right).
Η membrane usually occurs after the age of 50. The incidence according to studies is about 5% at 50 years, 10% at 60 and 20% at 70 years of life.
Usually, the epiretinal membrane is created due to posterior detachment of the vitreous humour (transparent jelly inside the eye) from the αμφιβληστροειδή.
This is due to gradual degeneration of the jelly (idiopathic condition) and occurs without any other cause than age.
Membrane can also form secondarily after a surgical procedure such as retinal detachment, due to diabetes mellitus, even from a trauma or inflammation inside the eye.
Risk factors also include a history of the disease membrane in the other eye, as if the membrane has formed in one eye, the chances of it appearing in the other eye are 2.7%.
Furthermore, the membrane can be observed in combination with macular edema (accumulation of fluid), or with a pseudo-hole (a small hole or gap in the epiretinal membrane, which appears as a hole in the αμφιβληστροειδή).
