Posterior vitreous detachment(PVD) shows up when the vitreousa gel-like fluid in the eyedetaches from theretina.
This results in eye floaters and flashes of light that can be annoying but is usually harmless.
A common age-related eye condition, PVD is not painful and does not cause vision loss on its own.
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However, it can lead to more serious complications that will need to be monitored by an ophthalmologist.
This article discusses posterior vitreous detachment.
It explains the symptoms, risk factors, possible complications, and treatments for PVD.
Floaters
Eye floatersare blurry shapes and shadows that move across your field of vision.
Floaters often settle in the corners of your eyes and appear in your peripheral vision.
They can also appear toward the center of your eye and become more obvious and annoying.
Floaters come in many shapes and can look like cobwebs, squiggly lines, dust, or insects.
If the floaters appear in the shape of a circle or oval, this is called a Weiss ring.
Flashes
The other sign of PVD is flashes of light in your peripheral vision.
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Noticing a few floaters occasionally isn’t something to worry about.
The detachment process occurs gradually over a period of one to three months.
These symptoms typically resolve once the process is complete.
However, vision-threatening complications can sometimes occur.
Retinal Tear
About one in 10 people with PVD develop aretinal tear.
Symptoms of a retinal tear are similar to PVD and include floaters and flashes of light.
Without prompt treatment, a retinal tear can lead to a retinal detachment.
Retinal Detachment
Aretinal detachmentis a serious condition that can cause loss of vision.
It pops up if vitreous fibers pull hard enough to tear the retina.
Another sign is a dark curtain or shadow moving across your field of vision.
Macular Hole
The macula is the part of your retina responsible for central vision.
This is called a macular pucker.
Macular pucker causes blurry or distorted vision and a gray or blind spot in the central vision.
Do not ignore your follow-up visits and care.
How Is PVD Diagnosed?
Posterior vitreous detachment can be diagnosed by an ophthalmologist using adilated eye exam.
In some cases, additional testing is needed.
A dilated eye exam is a standard ocular test.
Non-invasive testing can include:
Is Treatment Necessary?
Most of the time, a posterior vitreous detachment does not require any treatment.
When treatment becomes necessary, it is usually to treat one of the more severe conditions mentioned above.
A retina specialist (an ophthalmologist specializing in the back of the eye) may perform surgery orcryopexy.
Surgery
If posterior vitreous detachment progresses to a retinal detachment, it may require surgery.
A macular hole that occurs after vitreous detachment also may require surgery.
Unless the vision change is severe, macular pucker does not usually require further treatment.
However, in extreme cases, surgery also may be needed.
Cryopexy
Cryopexy is a freezing treatment used to help close a retinal tear.
It involves intense cold to freeze the damaged retina tissue and promote scar formation.
Scar formation can also be induced by utilizing laser to create a barrier around any tears.
That said, floaters can be stressful.
Fortunately, it’s possible for you to do a few things to make floaters more manageable.
Symptoms include eye floaters and flashes of light.
On its own, PVD is not dangerous and does not cause any permanent vision problems.
Most of the time, PVD can be diagnosed during a dilated eye exam.
Some people may require additional testing, such as ultrasound or ocular coherence tomography.
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