The vitreous is a transparent, gel-like substance that occupies the entire back portion of the eyeball. This portion of the eye is called the vitreous cavity. At birth, the vitreous humor fills up the entire space in the cavity. With age, the vitreous degenerates and is no longer able to keep its original consistency and shape. When this happens, the vitreous shrinks and pulls away from the retina at the back wall of the eye. This separation of vitreous from retina is called posterior vitreous detachment.
The two main symptoms are flashing lights and floaters. Not everyone will experience both symptoms. You might experience one but not the other, or even no symptoms.
In the majority of cases, the vitreous detaches without causing any problems. However, vitreous detachment may be accompanied by an ocular complication. The main complications are vitreous hemorrhage, retinal tear and retinal detachment.
It is not really possible to predict if you will develop problems as your vitreous detaches. What is known is that you are at higher risk of PVD-related complications if you have:
For most people, no treatment is required. The detached vitreous remains detached and does not reattach again. PVD does not cause any permanent loss of vision. But a retinal detachment will. It is therefore very important that you consult your retina specialist as early as possible for a thorough dilated retinal examination if you experience the symptoms of flashes and floaters.
The flashes and floaters will eventually settle over several weeks to several months. Flashing lights tend to settle completely because.the vitreous is no longer tugging on the retina. Floaters will become less noticeable as your brain learns to adapt and to ignore them. However, they are unlikely to disappear completely. In some cases, vitrectomy surgery may be appropriate. Don’t worry about these if you notice a few new floaters. If you notice a new shower of floaters, consult your retina specialist as soon as possible for a repeat retinal examination.
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