 Idiopathic epiretinal membranes, IOMs, are common pathological condition found in retina clinics. Research into their pathogenesis has been limited by the lack of definitive cellular origins and the presence of ultrastructural changes. Immunohistochemistry has identified glial cells and high allocytes as key players in IOM formation, while recent advances in proteomic techniques have revealed the growth factors and cytokines involved in IOM formation. This article was authored by Malav Joshi, Shivi Agrawal, and John Byron Christopherides.