Epiretinal membrane or macular pucker is avascular, fibrocellular membrane that develops on the inner surface of the retina that can result in various stages of macular dysfunction. Fine epiretinal membranes lead to minimal visual loss, whilst epiretinal membranes (that may or may not bridge the fovea) are, in their more severe stages, accompanied by macular edema and image distortion that is caused by pronounced tractional membranes and perifoveal capillary leakage. Macular edema and its' type, as well as epiretinal membrane bridging the fovea can precisely be defined and monitored via optical coherence tomography.This study included a total of 138 patients (188 eyes) with epiretinal membranes (95 on the right and 93 on the left eye). Macular edema was present in 144 eyes with, and 69 eyes without, epiretinal membranes. Data obtained for both eyes indicates that upon analysis number of patients in both examined groups (epiretinal membrane bridged and did not bridge the fovea) increases exponentially with increased visual acuity, and suggests that there is no considerable difference in distribution of visual acuity with regards to patients in both examined groups. This data also indicates that patients with the worst central macular thickness (>500 μ) are represented only in the group of patients where epiretinal membrane had bridged the fovea, but that in both examined groups there is a difference in prevalence of patients with central macular thickness of 400 to 499 μ (more common in the group that did, than in the group that did not, bridge the fovea). Hence, there exists a relationship between epiretinal membrane that bridges the fovea and central macular thickness.Aim of this study is to determine the extent in which epiretinal membrane bridging or not bridging the fovea influences visual acuity and to determine the relationship between them; central macular thickness; and visual acuity.

Retinal vein occlusion (RVO) is one of the most common vascular diseases of the eye and a frequent cause of severe visual loss. It is multifactorial in origin with both local factors and systemic diseases being of etiological importance. Many thrombophilic conditions have recently been identified and studies looking at their potential role in RVO have been undertaken. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) heterozigosity associated with normal homocysteine level in blood as risk factor for thromboembolic retinal/vitreal manifestations in patients with retinal vasculitis (RV) and RVO where the other risk factors (such as hypertension; atherosclerosis; diabetes; antiphospholipid syndrome) are excluded. Second question was if anticoagulation treatment should be applied together with systemic corticosteroids and/ immunosuppressive therapy? Results obtained from the examined group showed that heterozigosity for MTHFR C677T gene is of statistical significance and correlates with raised values of homocysteine (correlation coefficient = 0.23). At the same time increased levels of homocysteine correlate (correlation coefficient = 0.01) with appearance of RVO. At r = 0.67, if there is no RV present, existence of a single mutated allele for MTHFR C677T gene does not correlate with RVO. There is however significant correlation between the mutation for MTHFR and hemorrhagic type of RV associated with RVO and/ with isolated hemorrhagic vasculitis without RVO (correlation coefficient = 0.33; correlation coefficient = 0.27; respectively).

The aim of this study was to show how optical coherence tomography (OCT) can provide means for assessing macula and the optic disc, and so can be used to diagnose and follow micro-structural, macular, changes (epiretinal membranes; macular edema; lamellar hole and discontinuity of inner/outer segment line), that occur as complications of a disease (i.e. uveitis). It is a non invasive, non contact method that provides cross-sectional images of retina and its substructures in a real-time mode. High definition cross-sectional images obtained by a commercially available OCT are attained at 1-15 µm and can provide detailed pictures from deep within the retina. Seeing that OCT can be repeated numerous times it is useful for practitioners that need to follow treatment effects and progression of the disease.Spectral-Domain OCT was used to diagnose and follow macular changes in patients with uveitis (intermediate and posterior) and retinal vasculitis. OCT showed an epiretinal membrane (ERM) as intense back-reflective layer on the inner retinal surface. Via this method thickness measurements of ERM as well as the degree of inner retinal surface attachment (focal or diffused) were acquired and precisely defined. OCT showed macular edema as retinal layering followed by presence of intraretinal cavities and absence of back-reflection. It provided means of measuring thickness, localization, as well as size of intraretinal cysts during the evolution of macular edema (ME), and so was utilized in analysis of various factors such as progression of ERM; presence of ME; surface roughness; changes of thickness and layer configuration of retinal tissue.OCT macular scan provides precise and quick diagnosis of delicate microstructural retinal changes in high definition that can't be obtained during classical clinical examination. Progression of disease, changes and treatment effects, followed via OCT, are of great importance in clinical practice.