Posterior vitreous detachment is a common eye condition where the vitreous gel detaches from the retina, causing floaters. It is usually not serious, but in rare cases, it can lead to blindness. Retinal tears can be repaired with laser surgery, and a detached retina may require an operation to replace the vitreous gel.
Posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) is a common eye condition in which the gel-like matter in the eye, called the vitreous gel, or vitreous humor, shrinks and detaches from the retina at the back of the eye, leaving one or more spaces. In most cases, this disorder is not serious and does not cause significant vision loss. PVD-related eye problems commonly occur in individuals over the age of 65.
The cause of posterior vitreous detachment is related to changes in the vitreous gel that occur in older individuals. In a young person, this gel typically fills the central part of the eye, pressing on the retina at the back of the eye and helping to hold it in place. As it ages, the texture of the gel tends to change, becoming less viscous. At the same time, the gel mass tends to shrink slightly, so that it no longer completely fills the space it occupied. As a result, the gel mass can detach from the retina in one or more locations, leaving spaces at the back of the eye.
In most posterior vitreous detachments, the retina is not damaged and the individual maintains normal vision. The most common symptoms of posterior vitreous detachment are vitreous floaters, which are small particles of pigmented material that have moved from the retina into the vitreous gel. These floaters are usually experienced as small dots or lines in the patient’s field of vision. They can be annoying, but generally don’t lead to significant visual impairment. Vitreous floaters usually disappear, or at least become less noticeable, over a period of several weeks to a few months.
In some cases, more serious eye conditions may occur as complications of posterior vitreous detachment. When the vitreous gel detaches from the retina, it can tear the retinal tissue or even cause the retina to detach from the back of the eye. These complications, especially when accompanied by eye bleeding, can lead to serious eye disease and, in rare cases, even blindness.
Retinal tears can be repaired using laser eye surgery. Where a posterior vitreous detachment has caused a detached retina, the patient may require an operation to extract the vitreous gel from the eye and replace it by injecting a special fluid into the eye. This fluid replaces the vitreous gel and presses the retina back into place.
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