MER (epiretinal membrane) or macular epi.
The epiretinal membrane is a membrane made of fibrous and cellular tissue that proliferates on the surface of the macula. By contracting, it causes a wrinkling of the macula, which causes the symptoms.
In 80% of cases, it is linked to a posterior vitreous detachment, in 20% of cases it follows retinal tears, retinal detachment, ocular inflammation or even vascular pathology.
It most often affects people over 65 years old.
Patients complain of decreased visual acuity, metamorphopsia (rippling, distortion of lines and images seen), a sensation of veiled vision and disturbed binocular vision.
The ophthalmologist will perform an OCT, a FO and an angiography.
When the loss of vision is bothersome in the activities of daily life, surgical treatment is recommended.
It consists of a vitrectomy (removal of the vitreous body) with dissection of the membrane with forceps.
The improvement in visual acuity is spread over a period of 3 months, the symptoms regress but a deformation often persists which is not bothersome in binocular vision.
