What is it about ?
The eye is made up of several parts. The outer part is the sclera, it is the white of the eye. In the front part of the eye are the cornea and the lens, the role of which is to collect light rays before they reach the retina, located at the back of the eye. The retina is like a screen where the images we see are projected. An image is sent to the brain as signals via the optic nerve, and the brain renders the image from the signals it receives.
Between the lens, at the front of the eye, and the retina, at the back, is a space filled with a liquid called the vitreous or vitreous body. The vitreous is a kind of clear jelly which gives the eye its globular shape. With age, the structure of the vitreous changes slightly, and its volume decreases, which causes traction on neighboring structures; there is then a risk of detaching itself from these structures. In the event of vitreous detachment, the back of the vitreous is no longer in contact with the retina in the eyeball.
Where does it occur?
Vitreous detachment occurs most often in people over the age of 60, but it can also occur with nearsightedness because the myopic eye is longer than normal. The risk of vitreous detachment is increased after lesion or an eye operation.
How to recognize it?
Sometimes vitreous detachment does not give any symptoms, especially when it occurs slowly. With rapid vitreous detachment, possible symptoms are the appearance of moving shadows, floaters and flying flies. These elements move with the movements of the eyes. They do not prevent seeing, we see through. The vitreous detachment does not cause pain.
As the vitreous peels off by pulling on the retina, lightning appears. This can cause a retinal detachment ; a shadow then appears in the field of vision, like a veil which partly prevents seeing.
Tearing a blood vessel can cause vitreous bleeding. This causes an impression of fog in the field of vision. Severe bleeding can cause decreased vision.
How is the diagnosis made?
During the consultation, the doctor will ask you questions and refer you to an eye specialist (ophthalmologist) for an eye examination. The ophthalmologist can make the diagnosis and rule out retinal detachment and severe vitreous bleeding.
If you see different black spots or a shadow, you need to see an ophthalmologist within 24 hours. This can indeed be a sign of severe bleeding in the vitreous or detachment of the retina. In the event of less severe symptoms, it is best to consult an ophthalmologist within a week or month of the onset of symptoms.
What can you do ?
If you think you have vitreous detachment, you should see a doctor as soon as possible to rule out retinal detachment and severe vitreous bleeding.
What can the doctor do?
If the doctor has found that there are no complications, such as retinal detachment or severe vitreous bleeding, no treatment is necessary.
The symptoms will gradually disappear after a few months. Small shadows or floating spots usually remain visible, but rarely obstruct vision.
If you have vitreous bleeding but without complications, it is not necessary to go to the ophthalmologist for a check-up. If the symptoms worsen, it is better to have you followed by an ophthalmologist.
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