What are the causes of epimacular membranes?
Most epimacular membranes apparently develop due to posterior vitreous separation. Epimacular membranes formed by this process as termed “idiopathic” which means “unknown cause”. Freezing treatment (cryo) or laser treatment used to treat retinal tears and breaks can apparently contribute to the formation of epimacular membranes, although the retinal tears or breaks being treated with these techniques can also cause the formation of epimacular membranes without treatment. Inflammatory eye diseases can cause epimacular membranes. Approximately 2.5% of otherwise successful retinal detachment surgeries are followed by the development of epimacular membranes.
