Posterior Vitreous Detachment (PVD)

 Posterior Vitreous Detachment

The inside of the eyeball is filled with a transparent gel-like substsance called “vitreous". As we get older, the vitreous fluid loses its gely form and starts to shrink. Due to this shrinkage, the vitreous separates from the posterior wall of the eye. This separation is called "Posterior Vitreous Detachment (PVD)“. PVD usually occurs in old ages, after eye injuries, in high myopia, in some hereditary diseases, and in people who previously had eye surgeries.

What are the symptoms of Posterior Vitreous Detachment (PVD)?

• Floating spots, particles, spider webs, especially noticed when looking at white, bright surfaces
• Flashes of light (may be visible when the eye is open or closed)

Posterior Vitreous Detachment is not the same as retinal detachment caused by tears and holes in the retina. However, the risk of rupture and retinal detachment increases slightly during the formation of Posterior Vitreous Detachment, and especially in the first 12 months after it occurs. Therefore, a patient with symptoms of Posterior Vitreous Detachment must have a retinal examination.

If retinal detachment has occurred and not treated within a short time, it may result in vision loss. Therefore, it is important to know the symptoms of retinal detachment. These symptoms are:

• Flashes of light are felt when the eye is open or closed (as in Posterior Vitreous Detachment)
• The sudden increase of floaters
• Gray-black screen developing from any direction in the visual field
• Blur or vision loss that does not pass with blinking.

If one or more of the above symptoms are present, a retinal examination should be taken immediately.

RETINAL DETACHMENT

As a result of the shrinkage of the vitreous fluid filling the inside of the eyeball, this gel-like liquid is separated from the posterior wall of the eyeball. This condition is called Posterior Vitreous Detachment. During the formation of Posterior Vitreous Detachment, tears and holes may occur in the retina in some cases. The symptoms of retinal tears are almost the same as in the Posterior Vitreous Detachment mentioned in the previous section. After the retinal tear occurs, intraocular fluid passes through the tear between the retina and the underlying wall and causes a disease called "retinal detachment".

What Are the Symptoms of Retinal Detachment?

Retinal detachment is a disease that need to be treated urgently since it can result in vision loss. Therefore, its symptoms are important. These symptoms are:

• Flashes of light are felt when the eye is open or closed (as in Posterior Vitreous Detachment)
• The sudden increase of floaters
• Gray-black screen developing from any direction in the visual field
• Blur or vision loss that does not pass with blinking.

If one or more of the above symptoms are present, a retinal examination should be taken immediately.

It is extremely important to detect retinal rupture early and treat it before retinal detachment develops. Symptoms of retinal tears are flashes of light and floaters. If these symptoms occur, a retinal examination should be performed urgently.

What is the Treatment of Retinal Tears?

If retinal detachment has developed, a surgical treatment is required. The surgery method is determined depending on the number, size, location, shape and duration of the retinal tears.

Treatment of Retinal Tear with Laser

TREATMENT OF RETINAL TEARS WITH LASER

If retinal detachment has developed, a surgical treatment is required. The surgery method is determined depending on the number, size, location, shape and duration of the retinal tears.

SCLERAL BUCKLING METHOD

It is the oldest method used to treat Retinal Detachment. To coincide with the retinal tear area, a piece of hard silicone is placed on the outer wall of the eyeball, and the retinal tear is closed from the outside with this application. When the retinal tear is closed with this external application, retinal detachment fluid (fluid accumulating under the retina) is absorbed by the eye in a short time and healing is completed.

VITRECTOMY

If there are many tears and holes that cause retinal detachment, if they are large, if their location is different from the usual, if the tears cannot be detected, if there are other accompanying diseases (such as intraocular bleeding) or if some time has passed after tears occured, vitrectomy may be the correct treatment option. In vitrectomy surgery, retinal detachment is intervened through the eye. For this purpose, small holes are opened in the eyeball, the vitreous fluid is cleaned with the help of some cuts and aspirating probes and light sources. The fluid accumulated under the retina is aspirated, tears are closed, laser treatment is applied. At the end of the surgery, it is necessary to give a buffer substance into the eye to adhere the torn area and to maintain the success of the treatment. This buffer substance can be air and similar gases, or silicone oil. After the operation, the patient should use protective eye drops for a while and lie down by keeping the head in a certain position.