Do I need a general anaesthetic for surgery?
No. Mr Charles has performed this sort of surgery under local anaesthetic for many years and is very happy with the technique. However, everyone is different and some patients may prefer to have a general anaesthetic. Therefore the decision as to what kind of anaesthetic you would like is made at the time of your assessment, also bearing in mind your general health. What happens if my epiretinal membrane is not treated? If symptoms are very mild and you do not notice distortion, unless in occasional situations, surgery may not be required and things may remain stable. However if the symptoms get worse and the ERM is not removed, the central vision will steadily deteriorate, with increasing distortion and reducing your ability for fine tasks in that eye (ie: read, or recognise faces). The peripheral part of the vision will remain unaffected. Therefore, although the vision will become very blurred in the centre, the eye will never become totally blind. However it is the macula that gives
