Vitreous opacities
Vitreous opacities, often appearing as floaters, are common, usually harmless, and result from the shrinking and clumping of the vitreous gel, the gel-like substance that fills most of the eye.
- Vitreous opacities are visible structures within the vitreous gel, the clear, jelly-like substance that fills the space between the lens and the retina in your eye.
- Causes:
- Age-related changes: As we age, the vitreous gel naturally liquefies and can shrink, forming strands and clumps that cast shadows on the retina, appearing as floaters.
- Posterior vitreous detachment (PVD): This is a common age-related process where the vitreous gel detaches from the retina, often associated with floaters.
- Other conditions: Vitreous opacities can also be associated with inflammation, vitreous hemorrhage, or other eye conditions.
- Floaters: The most common symptom is the appearance of small, moving spots, shadows, or other shapes in the visual field.
- Flashes: In some cases, floaters may be accompanied by flashes of light.
- If you experience a sudden onset of many new floaters or flashes, especially accompanied by a loss of vision or pain, it's important to seek immediate medical attention as these could be signs of a more serious condition like retinal detachment.
- While most floaters are harmless, they can be a sign of an underlying eye condition that needs to be evaluated by an eye doctor.
- In most cases, vitreous opacities are benign and do not require treatment.
- If floaters become significantly bothersome or interfere with vision, a doctor may recommend options like vitrectomy, a surgical procedure to remove the vitreous gel.
- OCT (Optical Coherence Tomography) imaging is commonly used to measure the degree of vitreous opacification.
- B-scan ultrasound and wide-field color fundus photos are also used to document and assess vitreous opacities.
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