Closed microsurgery for the haemorrhagic and tractional sequelae of proliferative diabetic retinopathy is frequently successful in restoring and maintaining useful vision. Severe complications may arise, however, including the reproliferation of cellular membranes on the retinal surface with subsequent retinal distortion or redetachment. The clinical and histopathological features of such reparative epiretinal fibrosis are presented and methods of prevention are discussed.