NONVASCULAR VITREORETINOPATHY - THE CELLS AND THE CELLULAR BASIS OF CONTRACTION

Background We consider epiretinal membranes in terms of the two repair processes of gliosis and fibrosis and look at the cellular basis of c ontraction. Methods: Pathological material removed at surgery was exam ined by a range of morphological procedures. Cultures of fibroblasts, retinal pigment epithelium cells and retinal glia were subjected to bi oassays which relate to behavioural activities in scar formation. Resu lts and conclusions Our findings highlight the importance of activitie s such as migration and adhesion in the formation of epiretinal membra nes, and also show that these activities are central to our understand ing of contraction.