Macular pucker. I. Prognostic criteria.

Thirty-three eyes with symptomatic epimacular membranes were treated by vitreous surgery and membrane removal. Vision improved in 79%. Eyes with clinically transparent membranes, but without preoperative cystoid macular edema, were most likely to achieve good vision, while opaque membranes had worse vision. Because cystoid macular edema was the most common obstacle to improved vision, membranes should be removed before this process begins, or as soon as possible thereafter. Angiography should precede consideration of surgery. Even though large parts of the internal limiting lamina of the retina were often peeled with the membranes, excellent vision was possible.