Most patients with an epiretinal membrane can be successfully treated with an operation. Success means that the patient is pleased with the improvement in vision after the operation. That improvement also tends to be maintained. Most patients who undergo a successful epiretinal membrane operation are able to read two or three more lines on the standard vision test chart.

A major benefit in addition to improvement is that the distortion tends to be less after surgery. Perahps the greatest benefit to many people is that the eye with the epiretinal membrane tends to interfere much less with its fellow after a successful operation. One very important point is that peeling an epiretinal membrane does not result in an immediate improvement in vision. The vision in the eye can continue to improve for up to one year after the surgery. Some patients who are disappointed 3 months after the surgery are happy with the result at one year.