Macular Pucker

What is the macula?

The macula is the special area at the center of the retina which is responsible for clear, detailed vision. The retina is the light sensing layer of tissue that lines the back of the eye. If your macula is damaged, your sight will be blurred.


What is macular pucker?

The macula normally lies flat against the back of the eye, like film lining the back of a camera. A thin, transparent membrane grows over the macula. When the membrane stops growing, it contracts and shrinks, wrinkling the macula. The wrinkling is known as macular pucker. This condition is also known as cellophane maculopathy or premacular fibrosis. 

Symptoms

Vision becomes blurred and distorted, just as one would expect a picture to appear from a camera with wrinkled film. Straight lines, like doorways or telephone poles, often appear wavy. Vision loss can vary from barely noticeable to severe. One or both eyes may be involved. For most people, vision remain stable and does not get progressively worse.

Causes

Eye conditions that may be associated with macular pucker include:

1) Vitreous detachment 
2) Torn or detached retina
3) Inflammation inside eye
4) Severe injury to eye
5) Retinal blood vessel disorders

Macular pucker is not usually related to any medical problem outside the eye.

Diagnosis

Your ophthalmologist can detect macular pucker by examining your retina. A photographic test called, fluorescein angiogram may be done in order to tell the extent of damage, to the macula.

Treatment

Treatment is not necessary if your symptoms are mild. Eye drops, medicines, or laser surgery do not improve vision. Strengthening your bifocals or using a
magnifier may improve near vision if both eyes are involved. Vitrectomy is the only treatment that can remove macular pucker. It should be considered only if blurred vision is interfering with your daily activities. During this procedure your ophthalmologist uses tiny instruments to remove the membrane which is wrinkling the macula. Usually, the macula flattens out and the symptoms slowly improve. Vision does not usually return all the way to normal. Cataracts may develop sooner. Complications are uncommon, but may include:

1)Infection.
2)Bleeding.
3)Retinal detachment.
4)Reccurrence of macular pucker.