Mondo Description Vitreoretinal membrane shrinkage or contraction secondary to the proliferation of primarily retinal pigment epithelial cells and glial cells, particularly fibrous astrocytes, followed by membrane formation. The formation of fibrillar collagen and cellular proliferation appear to be the basis for the contractile properties of the epiretinal and vitreous membranes.

Uniprot Description An autoimmune condition of the eye that sequentially mimics uveitis, retinitis pigmentosa, and proliferative diabetic retinopathy as it progresses to complete blindness. Patients present during the second or third decade of life with posterior uveitis and reduction of the electroretinogram b-wave. They become more symptomatic when cataracts, cystoid macular edema, and disk edema diminish visual acuity during the second stage. Severe vision loss begins during the third stage when proliferative retinal neovascularization and epiretinal membranes appear. There is an ongoing pigmentary retinal degeneration and peripheral visual field loss during all stages. In the fourth stage, proliferative vitreoretinopathy causes tractional retinal detachments at the macula and vitreous base. The fifth or end-stage disease is marked by phthisis.