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What is epiretinal membranes?
9 December 2025
This is a common ocular condition characterized by the appearance of fibrous tissue that develops on the surface of the macula, which is the central and highest-vision area of the retina. This tissue pulls the macula forward and wrinkles it, which can cause a decrease in visual acuity or image deformation.
Epiretinal membranes, also called premacular fibrosis or epimacular membrane, are related to the normal aging of the vitreous gel, which leads to a posterior vitreous detachment. This can cause cells from the retina or the pigmented epithelium to settle on the macula, forming a fibrotic mesh that may contract.
They most commonly occur in one eye, but sometimes they can affect both. It is more common in women aged 50 and older.
Epiretinal membranes are usually classified according to the degree of progression or their origin:
- Idiopathic: Due to vitreous detachment.
- Secondary: Due to the presence of other conditions, trauma, or ocular tumors, such as retinal detachment, uveitis, retinitis pigmentosa, and vascular diseases of the retina, among others.
Signs and symptoms Epiretinal Membranes
Sometimes no symptoms are present, and the condition is detected during a routine eye exam, but symptoms usually include:
- Deformation or distortion of images.
- Flashes of light.
- Decreased visual acuity.
- Decreased color perception.
- Wavy straight lines.
- Seeing double images.
- Seeing objects of different sizes from one eye to the other (aniseikonia).
- Seeing things smaller or larger.
Sometimes retinal cysts can be detected, resulting from fluid leakage from blood vessels under the traction exerted by the membrane. This condition is known as cystic macular edema and causes greater vision loss.
Diagnosis and treatment Epiretinal Membranes
Once your ophthalmologist analyzes your symptoms and medical history, they will perform a complete eye exam and an Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) to identify any modification on the surface of the retina or in any of its layers, as well as to diagnose any change in the back of the eye due to the presence of epiretinal membranes.
The treatment will depend on the cause, but a microsurgery is regularly performed, in which a vitrectomy is done first, and then the epiretinal membrane is peeled from the surface of the retina.
The goal is to minimize distortion, prevent the membrane from further deteriorating vision, and, if possible, improve the visual field.
As with any pathology, the best way to prevent epiretinal membranes from affecting vision is timely detection through regular ophthalmological check-ups, especially if:
- You have suffered from intraocular inflammation.
- You have been diagnosed with a macular epiretinal membrane in the other eye.
- You have undergone intraocular surgery.
- You have a disease in the retinal blood vessels.
Related centers and departments Epiretinal Membranes
Fuentes:
- aao.org
- nih.gov
- cun.es
- topdoctors.es
- medlinesplus.gov
- msdmanuals.com
- medigraphic.com
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The dissemination of the content of this material is for informational purposes only and does not replace, under any circumstance or condition, a consultation with a specialist doctor, for which the ABC Medical Center is not responsible for the different use that may be given to it. If you require more information related to the subject, we suggest you contact the specialist doctor you trust directly.
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