epiretinal membrane and cataract surgery

[winecolour]

Thanks everyone who has responded to my previous post. I should have explained what an epiretinal membrane is. It’s a thin sheet of fibrous tissue called a membrane that develops on the surface of the macular at the back of the eye, and distorts the vision. Eventually it can prevent all focussed vision.

Surgery on the eye for cataracts can disturb the membrane, which would make the vision problems worse. I am keen to hear from anyone who has epiretinal membrane and has some knowledge or experience of the risks of surgery for cataracts with a preexisting epiretinal membrane.

I have the membrane and cataracts in both my eyes, with my right eye worse for both. So if I have cataract surgery it would be only for my right eye.

What is being interfered with for me is my ability to read in less than 100% clear light, my ability in different situations (frequent for my work) to switch easily between close, medium and longer distance sight. I can just about cope though it is wearying, and getting worse very slowly. The hospital is happy to monitor me for the moment. So in the meantime, I want to learn what I can about it all and get a better feel for the risks of surgery.

I am in the UK and the many reports say that cataract surgery is the most successful of all surgery and it results in a dramatic improvement in vision.

The hospital consultant says that the risk that the membrane will be disturbed is low - 1 in a 100 that it might happen. But the risk is there. So I am keen to hear from others who have epiretinal membrane and have also had or had to consider surgery on the eye for cataracts or any other reason. Or if you know of any weblinks for this issue they will also be welcome. Many thanks.

[Maryvic]

I have Central Retinal Vein Occlusion. Before cataract surgery the CRVO had been stable for over 5 years. After cataract surgery the scan of the effected eye showed the retina was “disturbed”. I have needed to decrease time between shots by one week. I expect it to continue to settle down overtime. My vision is clear now.

While my dx is different from yours, and cataract surgery being about the front of the eye not the back, action on one may have an effect on the other. The eye is complex.

Wishing the best of results for you! 🌷

[Hidden]

Hi,

Dont know if you already have them but I had the same problem at work switching vision distance so I got varifocals even though my clinic had said not suitable for me ( brvo with mac oedema).

They have really helped. I got biggest frame size I could find so enough of each bit to see through.

At last review I told doc this and he agreed best option for me if I wanted to keep doing the job I currently do and that it wouldnt hurt anything.

I dont think the cataracts affect switching between close/computer/distance vision that specifically do they? more an overall dimming and blurriness. At least that was my experience. So good task lighting should help which work ought to provide and maybe try a new specs prescription for varifocals before committing to the op?

[winecolour in reply to Hidden]

Hi Thanks for your comments. I already have varifocals which I wear for general use outside and driving. But they aren't good enough to give me the lens space for close reading.

I also now use off the shelf close reading specs which are working fine when I have to read a lot of text eg office papers, newspapers or a book rather than glance at them while also looking up a lot of the time.

I have a new pair which are bifocals for meetings where there is enough lens for me to read and glance at papers as well as look up at other people.

Now it is the computer work and looking at papers at the same time that are an issue for me. I may need to get a pair specifically for that though the optician thinks they can't prescribe specs to improve that.

So if cataract surgery would improve any of that enough to outweigh the risk to the epiretinal membrane I would be able to consider cataract surgery. That is why I am searching for anyone who has experience of epiretinal membrane to add to my understanding of the risks.