This study demonstrates in a rabbit model of epiretinal membrane formation that retinal-associated ODC activity increases during this pathological process. These changes in retinal-associated ODC activity most likely occur in relationship to the proliferative lesion itself, since the retina consists primarily of nonproliferative tissues. Further knowledge of intraocular polyamine metabolism during epiretinal membrane formation which can result in retinal detachment may lead to the development of an effective pharmacological treatment.