Prevalence and associations of epiretinal membranes in the visual impairment project

Abstract

PURPOSE: To determine the prevalence and factors associated with epiretinal membranes in a random sample of the population aged 40 years and older in Victoria, Australia. DESIGN: Population-based cross-sectional study. METHODS: Detailed eye examinations, including retinal photographs, were conducted in 1992 and 1997 in 3271 people (83% of the eligible) in Melbourne and 1473 (92% of the eligible) in rural Victoria. Eyes present with either cellophane macular reflex (CMR) or preretinal macular fibrosis (PMF) were classified as having epiretinal membranes. Eyes with both CMR and PMF present were classified as having PMF. Age-standardized prevalence rates and 95% confidence limits were calculate..