Posterior Vitreous Detachment
What is Posterior Vitreous Detachment?
Posterior Vitreous Detachment (PVD) affects 75% of people over the age of 65 but may be helped with dietary and nutritional changes. The jelly-like vitreous gel (vitreous humour) is 99% water and takes up the space between the retina and the lens of the eye. As we get older, the vitreous becomes more liquid and causes a strain on the connective tissue and fibers, often resulting in a tear or detachment from the retina.
A vitreous detachment is not sight threatening and requires no medical treatment, however …
In patients with symptoms of a PVD, there is an incidence of retinal tears of 14.5% and hemorrhages of 22.7%. One study shows floaters in 42%, flashes in 18%, and both floaters and flashes in 20% of patients with PVD and secondary retinal pathology.
Only about 10% of patients with PVD develop a retinal tear; around 40% of patients with an acute retinal tear, if left untreated, will develop a retinal detachment. So, it is crucial to get an immediate evaluation at any first signs of symptoms.
In some cases with a partial vitreous tear, the remaining fibers can continue to pull on the retina, resulting in a macula hole, or potentially, a tear in the retina or retinal blood vessel. Again, this needs to be monitored by your eye doctor.
