Treatment for Epiretinal Membrane

Treatment for Epiretinal Membrane

In most cases, little can be done to improve visual acuity. Most patients only suffer a minimal reduction in vision or have slight metamorphopsia (distortion of visual images).  In severe cases, vision may drop to 20/100 or worse and a vitrectomy surgery to remove the epiretinal membrane may be recommended.  Eye drops, medications or eyeglasses will not correct the loss of vision.  During vitrectomy surgery, the vitreous gel is removed and the epiretinal membrane is peeled from the surface of the retina using microscopic forceps. Removing the vitreous is not harmful to the function of the eye.  Vitrectomy surgery is an outpatient procedure usually performed under local anesthesia.  This procedure is very intricate with its own set of complications, and is therefore reserved for those patients for whom there are no alternatives.