Aims To describe the prevalence and associations of epiretinal membrane (ERM) in an elderly urban Chinese population in China.

Methods A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted using a cluster random sample of residents aged 50 years or older living in the Jiangning Road Sub-district, Shanghai, China. All participants underwent a standardised interview and comprehensive eye examinations, including digital retinal photography and spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) examinations of both eyes between November 2012 and February 2013. ERM was identified and classified as either cellophane macular reflex (CMR) or preretinal macular fibrosis (PMF) based on the fundus photography and OCT features.

Results Of the 2044 subjects who participated (82.5% response rate), 2005 had fundus photographs and OCT results of sufficient quality for grading of ERM signs. ERM was present in 8.4% of participants, including 5.0% with CMR and 3.4% with PMF. After age and gender standardisation to the 2010 Chinese census population, the prevalence rate of ERM in mainland Chinese individuals of 50 years of age or older was estimated to be 7.3%. After adjusting for age and/or gender, idiopathic ERM was positively associated with age (OR, 1.06; 95% CI 1.04 to 1.08), female gender (OR 1.67, 95% CI 1.16 to 2.40), myopia (OR 2.21, 95% CI 1.51 to 3.22) and hyperlipaemia (OR 1.80, 95% CI 1.04 to 3.12).

Conclusions The prevalence of ERM in elderly urban Chinese was similar to that in Caucasians. Risk factors for idiopathic ERM were older age, female gender, myopia and hyperlipaemia.