Epiretinal membranes in sickle cell retinopathy
M. D. Carney and L. M. Jampol
We examined the hospital records (including fundus photographs) of 769
patients (1486 eyes) with sickle cell disease from June 1978 to July 1985
for evidence of epiretinal membranes in the macula (51 eyes) or
extramacular region (four eyes) of the posterior pole. The incidence of
epiretinal membranes, seen in the eyes of patients with hemoglobin SC, SS,
and SB+ thalassemia, was 3.7%. Most epiretinal membranes were mild, and
visual acuity was 20/40 or better in 78.2% of these eyes. Severe macular
pucker was occasionally noted following retinal detachment surgery. One
patient with SC disease developed a macular epiretinal membrane that led to
a macular hole and eventually to macular and extra-macular retinal
detachment. Epiretinal membranes are a relatively common cause of
maculopathy in patients with sickle cell disease.
