Prevalence and Risk Factors of Epiretinal Membrane in Diabetic and Non-diabetic Patients

Numerous terms have been used to describe epiretinal membrane (ERM): macular pucker, epimacular membrane, surface-wrinkling retinopathy, cellophane maculopathy and preretinal macular fibrosis. It is, by definition, a fibrocellular tissue found on the inner surface of the retina. It is semi-translucent and proliferates on or above the surface of the internal limiting membrane. It causes blurring and metamorphopsia, while mild cases are often asymptomatic. ERM presence can degrade the acuity and the quality of vision, thus affecting the quality of life. There is evidence that it also has an adverse impact to the treatment options for patients suffering from macular disorders. More specifically, regarding to diabetic retinopathy, ERM seems to have a bidirectional etiopathogenetic relationship with its course and complications. The aim of this study is to know the prevalence of ERM in the Brussel's population, the risk factors predisposing to ERM formation and if diabetic patients have a significantly higher prevalence of ERM in comparison to general population.