Epiretinal Membrane (also known as "Macular Pucker" or
"Surface Wrinkling Retinopathy" or "Cellophane
Maculopathy")
A sheet of cells over the macula (center of vision in the retina) can
contract over time, "wrinkling" the macula to cause a distortion in
the center part of vision. Usually, this is "idiopathic" (i.e. the
cause is unknown), but the condition may be associated with a retinal tear.
This may be treated with
vitrectomy surgery in the operating room to remove the membrane causing the
wrinkle. A special staining techique with Indocyanine Green dye is used to
assist in the procedure.