PVR is the result of growth and contraction of cellular membranes within the hyaloids, retina, and retinal surface.
These membranes exert traction and may cause tractional RD that opens otherwise successfully treated retinal breaks, creating new retinal breaks, or promoting proliferation at the posterior vitreous base and anterior cortical vitreous. This in turn causes anteroperipheral traction on the retina with displacement of the peripheral retina toward the pars plana. Membrane contraction on the inner retina causes distortion and folding, resulting in starfolds at the inferior quadrant.