Background: We consider epiretinal membrane in terms of the two repair processes of gliosis and fibrosis and look at the cellular basis of contraction.
Methods: Pathological material removed at surgery was examined by a range of morphological procedures. Cultures of fibroblasts, retinal pigment epithelium cells and retinal glia were subjected to bioassays which relate to behavioural activities in scar formation.
Results and conclusions: Our findings highlight the importance of activities such as migration and adhesion in the formation of epiretinal membranes, and also show that these activities are central to our understanding of contraction.