The eye is often compared to a camera. The front of the eye contains a lens that focuses images on the inside of the back of the eye. This area, called the retina, is covered with special nerve cells that react to light. These nerve cells are very close together in the middle of the retina where the eye focuses the images that we see. This small part of the retina is called the macula.

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The macula normally lies flat against the inside back surface of the eye. Sometimes cells can grow on the inside of the eye contracting and pulling on the macula or the vitreous (the clear gel that fills the inside of your eye) may cause traction on the macula. Occasionally, an injury or medical condition creates strands of scar tissue inside the eye. These are called epiretinal membranes, and they can pull on the macula.

When this pulling makes the macula wrinkle, it is called macular pucker. In some eyes, this will have little effect on vision, but in others it can be significant leading to distorted vision which may require surgical intervention.

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