Vitreous detachment

Vitreous detachment does not hurt, whereas the main signs you may notice, if it has occurred, are floaters or small black spots moving in the visual field, as well as flashes of light that last a few seconds and are perceived especially at night or in dimly lit environments.

If these symptoms appear or increase suddenly, we recommend not delaying your visit to the ophthalmologist. Although vitreous detachment is usually not serious, sometimes it may precede a retinal detachment, if the vitreous gel pulls and tears the retinal tissue. In these cases, Miranza’s specialists stress that it is essential to perform an emergency surgery.

Generally, vitreous detachment is a process associated with ageing; thus, it is more common after the age of 50. However, there are other causes and risk factors that may cause or multiply the risk of suffering from it:

• High myopia
• Recurrent inflammatory processes, such as uveitis
• Eye injuries
• Complication of cataract surgery, although this is rare

Vitreous detachment associated with ageing is usually not serious and generally does not require specific treatment. Nonetheless, it is recommended that you see a specialist regularly to closely monitor the evolution of your symptoms and prevent possible complications. Moreover, if you have vitreous detachment in one eye, it is more likely that it will also occur in the other eye.

Sometimes the floaters associated with vitreous detachment may not dissolve over time (something that happens in a third of patients after 6 months) and significantly interfere with your vision. In these persistent, severe and especially annoying cases, we may assess the need to perform a treatment with laser vitreolysis or a vitrectomy.

A vitrectomy is also indicated if the vitreous detachment is accompanied by severe bleeding or if it results in retinal detachment.