Unlike the cornea or lens, the retina is part of the central nervous
system and cannot be replaced. Therefore degeneration of the outer
retina is blinding, but trials using devices such as retinal implants
which combine biology with technology are showing promise at restoring
vision. Macular diseases are the most common cause of blindness in the
developed countries. Edema of the macula may arise in the retina, such
as in diabetes mellitus or in epiretinal membrane formation, but most
importantly it is age-related insufficiency of the underlying retinal
pigment epithelial cell that causes central scotoma. This volume on
vitreo-retinal surgery is written by authors who are leaders in these
fields of research. It covers the large body of experimental research
performed to date on the most urgent clinical problems of vitreoretinal
disease.