Gliosis

Gliosis is the name for an increased number of glial cells in a damaged area of the central nervous system or brain. This is the non-specific neuropathological response to various neurological diseases. The glial cells take up the space here, but not the function of damaged nerve cells.

Epiretinal gliosis

The macular pucker, macular pucker is also directly visible, because of their location in the eye as opposed to the gliosis of the rest of the central nervous system. In this disease accumulate on the inner ( epiretinal ) limiting membrane contractile between the retina and vitreous body, collagen-containing cells, which may be very different origin, and form a dense layer, which tends to gradual shrinkage. Among the possible origin cells include astrocytes and Müller cells of the retina, so true glial cells, but also cells of the retinal pigment epithelium or inflammatory cells.

Cause

The epiretinal gliosis can occur without apparent cause ( idiopathic) or as a result of eye diseases or operations (secondary).

Symptoms

Depending on their extent can a macular pucker go unnoticed but also cause visual disturbances such as metamorphopsia or a central scotoma. Very broad, contractile gliotische membranes can lead to retinal detachment and thus to a complete loss of vision in the affected eye.

Diagnostics

In the eyes mirroring the epiretinal membrane in glitter and a possibly occurring distortion of choroidal vessels and can be detected. The test with the Amslernetz or Amsler grid is used to determine early metamorphopsy and their dynamics.

Therapy

The frequent, delicate epiretinal gliosis with no tendency to progression require no treatment.

In disturbing symptoms of improvement in vision or partly complete healing with a peeling ( peeling) of epiretinal membranes is possible; an operation in which, after pars plana vitrectomy, the entire border epiretinal membrane is removed.

Diseases with similar symptoms

A similar symptoms can by numerous other eye diseases, especially retina and choroid skin, caused, also may be a sign of other eye disease, the disease itself, so that when such complaints, a thorough examination of the entire affected eye and the other side is always required.