THE TREATMENT OF VITREORETINAL SCAR TISSUE

Methods of treating vitreoretinal scarring have been transformed by th e introduction and development of closed intraocular microsurgery. Con trolled access to the posterior segment of the eve, under excellent co nditions for intraoperative viewing, have increased our understanding of the pathophysiology of epiretinal membranes. The ready ability to h arvest tissue specimens for histopathological and immunochemical study , enabled by this type of surgery, has provided the stimulus for much basic research into the nature of fibrocellular (and fibrovascular) pr oliferative disease. Treatment of retinal conditions characterised by the proliferation of fibrocellular membranes has been improved, but th e most important future advances are likely to be made in the fields o f molecular biology and pharmacology.