Initially, with mild vitreous degeneration, the most common symptoms are vitreous floaters, which look like small cobwebs in the field of vision.
With some individuals who experience significant degeneration, a posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) can happen. A posterior vitreous detachment is the complete detachment of the vitreous humor from the retina. Risk factors for PVD include aging, advanced myopia, recent eye surgery, and eye trauma. Although PVD rarely leads to vision loss, it can lead to flashes of light and an increase in floaters.Currently, there are no specific treatments for vitreous degeneration. Symptoms typically become less bothersome. Most people become accustomed to the floaters and don’t consider them an issue after a few months. With PVD, the flashes and floaters tend to subside over time, and most individuals rarely require any type of treatment.
For a vitreous hemorrhage caused by PVD, the recommendation is for the individual to maintain head elevation above the heart, to allow the blood to settle in the eye. The hemorrhage should start to clear from the eye within a few days.
There are treatment options for those who experience significant vitreous floaters, retinal tears and a complete retinal detachment. Vitrectomy laser surgery can be performed to help alleviate any vitreous floaters. Vitrectomy is a surgical procedure in which the vitreous humor is removed and replaced with another fluid, and a laser is used to repair the retina. This treatment is reserved for those who have large floaters that have lasted longer than 6 months. Both a retinal tear and detachment require immediate intervention by a health care provider, and both can be treated with vitrectomy.Copyright © 2024 Elsevier, its licensors, and contributors. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies.
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