A macular pucker is scar tissue that has formed on the eye's macula. The macula is located in the center of the eye's light-sensitive tissue called the retina.
A macular pucker is also called epiretinal membrane, preretinal membrane, cellophane maculopathy, retina wrinkle, surface wrinkling retinopathy, premacular fibrosis, and internal limiting membrane disease.
However, sometimes when the vitreous pulls away from the retina, there is microscopic damage to the retina's surface. When this happens, the retina begins a healing process to the damaged area and forms scar tissue, or an epiretinal membrane, on the surface of the retina. This scar tissue is firmly attached to the retina surface. When the scar tissue contracts, it causes the retina to wrinkle, or pucker, usually without any effect on central vision. However, if the scar tissue has formed over the macula, our sharp, central vision becomes blurred and distorted.
A macular pucker usually requires no treatment. In many cases, the symptoms of vision distortion and blurriness are mild, and no treatment is necessary. People usually adjust to the mild visual distortion, since it does not affect activities of daily life, such as reading and driving. Neither eye drops, medications, nor nutritional supplements will improve vision distorted from macular pucker.
Rarely, vision deteriorates to the point where it affects daily routine activities. However, when this happens, surgery may be recommended.
If treatment is recommended a "peel" of the EPM or epiretnial membrane my be suggested. A retinal surgery expert in EPM should be consulted.
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