Rage readings were recorded. The B-mode ultrasound (10 MHz or 20 MHz, Cine-Scan, Quantel, France) and OCT (Spectralis OCT, Heidelberg Engineering, Heidelberg, Germany) examinations (after 20 minutes’ dark adaptation with the pupil naturally dilated or adequate pupil dilatation with Mydrin-P) were conducted on all 68 participants by two ophthalmologists, respectively, who were trained and certified by retinal specialists. Posterior staphyloma and the kinetic movements of both the posterior vitreous and the vitreoretinal traction were observed under biomicroscopy, ophthalmoscopy and B-mode ultrasonography. The PVD before the macular region was confirmed when a complete separation of the posterior hyaloid membrane (a floating continuous thin membrane-like echo in the vitreous cavity under ultrasonography) and an optically or acoustically empty subhyaloid space were both present under ultrasonography, and no vitreoretinal adhesion at the macular region was present under OCT examination. OCT examinations, including detected iERM in OCT images, were performed in both groups [38]. The retinal thickness of thecentral fovea, the thickness of iERM, and the distance PS 1145 biological activity between the membrane and central fovea were measured. Most of the OCT scans of the macula were centered on the participant’s fixation point. When visual acuity in the participant’s eye to be scanned was too poor to provide stable fixation, manual positioning of the macula by moving the fixation LED or using external fixation was used. Part of the optic disc was included at the edge of the images to help orient the images.Data Management and AnalysisStatistical analyses were performed with SPSS statistical software version 13.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). An alpha level of P,0.05 was chosen as the criterion for significance. Descriptive statistical analyses were performed to characterize demographic data, visual acuity, and clinical characteristics. Agestandardized prevalence was calculated by direct methods using 2000 Chinese national census population. Logistic regression was employed to determine the independence of potential risk factors for iERM, including continuous (age and BMI) and dichotomous variables (gender, level of education, hypertension, diabetes, cardio-cerebrovascular diseases, and high myopia). Odds ratios (ORs) and 95 CIs were reported. Moreover, the independentsamples t-test and Mantel-Haenszel chi-square test were used to determine the significant differences between the case and control groups.ResultsA total of 4,153 residents were determined as eligible, 1516647 and 3727 residents underwent interviews and clinic examinations, 223488-57-1 web corresponding to a response rate of 89.7 . Of these, gradable retinal photographs for epiretinal membranes were available for 3571 participants (95.8 , 7,142 eyes; 1,989 women). The mean age was 71.0867.36 years (median, 71 years; range, 60?8 years). The other 156 participants (4.2 ) had un-gradable retinal photographs due to refractive media opacity, such as cataract and vitreous opacity. 245 of 3571 participants (6.9 ) were excluded because of a known secondary cause of the development of 
ERM. DR was present in 32 participants, retinal vascular disease in 50, a history or signs of retinal detachment in 19, and a history of cataract surgery in 162. Of the resulting 3,326 participants, iERM was detected in 39 eyes of 34 participants according to retinal photographs, for a prevalence of 1.02 . CMR was present in 0.63 (21 eyes of 21 participants).Rage readings were recorded. The B-mode ultrasound (10 MHz or 20 MHz, Cine-Scan, Quantel, France) and OCT (Spectralis OCT, Heidelberg Engineering, Heidelberg, Germany) examinations (after 20 minutes’ dark adaptation with the pupil naturally dilated or adequate pupil dilatation with Mydrin-P) were conducted on all 68 participants by two ophthalmologists, respectively, who were trained and certified by retinal specialists. Posterior staphyloma and the kinetic movements of both the posterior vitreous and the vitreoretinal traction were observed under biomicroscopy, ophthalmoscopy and B-mode ultrasonography. The PVD before the macular region was confirmed when a complete separation of the posterior hyaloid membrane (a floating continuous thin membrane-like echo in the vitreous cavity under ultrasonography) and an optically or acoustically empty subhyaloid space were both present under ultrasonography, and no vitreoretinal adhesion at the macular region was present under OCT examination. OCT examinations, including detected iERM in OCT images, were performed in both groups [38]. The retinal thickness of thecentral fovea, the thickness of iERM, and the distance between the membrane and central fovea were measured. Most of the OCT scans of the macula were centered on the participant’s fixation point. When visual acuity in the participant’s eye to be scanned was too poor to provide stable fixation, manual positioning 
of the macula by moving the fixation LED or using external fixation was used. Part of the optic disc was included at the edge of the images to help orient the images.Data Management and AnalysisStatistical analyses were performed with SPSS statistical software version 13.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). An alpha level of P,0.05 was chosen as the criterion for significance. Descriptive statistical analyses were performed to characterize demographic data, visual acuity, and clinical characteristics. Agestandardized prevalence was calculated by direct methods using 2000 Chinese national census population. Logistic regression was employed to determine the independence of potential risk factors for iERM, including continuous (age and BMI) and dichotomous variables (gender, level of education, hypertension, diabetes, cardio-cerebrovascular diseases, and high myopia). Odds ratios (ORs) and 95 CIs were reported. Moreover, the independentsamples t-test and Mantel-Haenszel chi-square test were used to determine the significant differences between the case and control groups.ResultsA total of 4,153 residents were determined as eligible, 1516647 and 3727 residents underwent interviews and clinic examinations, corresponding to a response rate of 89.7 . Of these, gradable retinal photographs for epiretinal membranes were available for 3571 participants (95.8 , 7,142 eyes; 1,989 women). The mean age was 71.0867.36 years (median, 71 years; range, 60?8 years). The other 156 participants (4.2 ) had un-gradable retinal photographs due to refractive media opacity, such as cataract and vitreous opacity. 245 of 3571 participants (6.9 ) were excluded because of a known secondary cause of the development of ERM. DR was present in 32 participants, retinal vascular disease in 50, a history or signs of retinal detachment in 19, and a history of cataract surgery in 162. Of the resulting 3,326 participants, iERM was detected in 39 eyes of 34 participants according to retinal photographs, for a prevalence of 1.02 . CMR was present in 0.63 (21 eyes of 21 participants).