Epiretinal macular edema associated with thick epiretinal membranes.

High-resolution imaging with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography has identified an unusual group of epiretinal membranes (ERMs) in the presence of lamellar macular holes. These ERMs are unusually thick. The authors present the case of a patient with age-related macular degeneration who developed edema within a thickened ERM in both eyes after cataract surgery. The edema resolved with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy. The authors propose that the VEGF-responsive fluid within these thick ERMs arose from fibrovascular tissue derived from the retina. Further studies with histopathology will be required to determine whether neovascular tissue is present in all cases of thickened ERMs with epiretinal edema. Copyright 2013, SLACK Incorporated.