EPIRETINAL MEMBRANE IS A MEMBRANE FORMED ON THE SURFACE OF THE VISUAL CENTER OF THE EYE CALLED MAKULA
CAUSES WRINKLERING AND SHRINKING IN THE VISUAL CENTER OVER TIME
IT OFTEN OCCURS AFTER 55-60 YEARS OF AGE AND OCCURS SPONTANEOUSLY. IT USUALLY AFFECTS ONE EYE.
MORE RARELY, THERE IS AN UNDERLYING CAUSE. THESE ARE REASONS SUCH AS BLOWS TO THE EYE, TEARS IN THE RETINA, PREVIOUS EYE SURGERY.
EPIRETINAL MEMBRANE DOES NOT GIVE ANY SYMPTOMS AT FIRST. HOWEVER, AS THE MEMBRANE STARTS TO THICKEN, IT CAUSES WRINKLES IN THE VISUAL CENTER AND CAUSES COMPLAINTS OF DECREASED VISION AND BOWLING IN STRAIGHT LINES. IN ADVANCED CASES, THESE COMPLAINTS CAUSE QUITE DISCOMFORT.
TREATMENT OF THE EPIRETINAL MEMBRANE IS SURGERY. THERE IS NO MEDICAL TREATMENT. A SURGICAL INTERVENTION CALLED VITRECTOMY IS APPLIED. DURING THE SURGERY, THE MEMBRANE THAT CAUSES CONTRACTION IS PEELED AND CLEANED. VERY GOOD VISION INCREASES ARE PROVIDED WITH VITRECTOMY APPLIED IN THE EARLY PERIOD.
SURGERY IS ALSO PERFORMED IN DELAYED CASES, BUT THE EXPECTATION FOR VISION INCREASE SHOULD BE LOWER.
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