Importance of the Vitreous & Retina for Good Vision

Your retina detects light and passes impulses to your optic nerve, which in turn carries those impulses to your brain. There's a clear gel that fills the space between the lens of your eye and the retina that is called the Vitreous Humor (also called the vitreous).

A healthy Vitreous Humor is crucial to normal eyesight because light entering your eye is transmitted through the Vitreous Humor to the retina. (The retina then transmits these impulses to your optic nerve, which carries them to your brain.)

Conditions of the Vitreous & Retina

A common condition that affects the vitreous (and so the retina) is known as Posterior Vitreous Detachment (PVD). The cause of PVD is something that affects us all sooner or later: The natural act of aging.

With advancing age, the vitreous changes from a gel to a liquid. As it does so, the vitreous mass gradually shrinks and collapses, separating and falling away from the retina. This is called a Posterior Vitreous Detachment and is a normal occurrence between ages 40 and 70. Symptoms include seeing flashing lights or €œfloaters.€

Detached Retina is a More Serious Condition

Sometimes the vitreous membrane pulls on the retina and creates a tear in it. Vitreous fluid can seep into (or beneath) the retina, causing it to become detached. The retinal tear and subsequent detachment can be repaired by several different procedures, each of which is available at Green Bay Eye Clinic:
The tear may be sealed with an argon laser; frozen using cryotherapy; or, most commonly, secured with a tiny €œbelt€ called a scleral buckle.

Importantly, the tear should be repaired as soon as possible as permanent loss of vision can result. The symptoms of a detached retina are similar to that of a PVD, albeit more intense.

Expertise in Retinal Detachment & Conditions of the Retina & Vitreous Humor

Most retinal detachments are caused by injury to the head, although nearsighted people are prone to retinal detachment because their eyes are longer and the retina is stretched thinner.

If you've experienced any of the above symptoms, an ophthalmologist at Green Bay Eye Clinic can help.

For more information on conditions of the eye €” and our various corrective procedures to treat them €” be sure to view our Eyemaginations Library, a 3-D guided tour of your eyes, how they work, and the various eye conditions and treatments you should know about.

For all your eye care needs, from contact lenses and glasses to the latest in LASIK laser eye surgery, contact Green Bay Eye Clinic today to schedule an appointment.