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What is the vitreous retina?
The vitreous is a transparent viscous gel that is in contact with the retina in the posterior segment of the eyeball. The retina is the sensory organ of the eye, where perceived images are projected and processed as a nerve impulse that is sent out by the optic nerve.
There are multiple pathologies that affect the vitreous, such as vitreous detachments, and losses of its transparency such as vitreous haemorrhages. The retina can suffer traction, vascular problems, detachment, ischaemia and haemorrhages, even inflammation...
Symptoms and diagnosis
The most frequent is the appearance of flying flies, shadows or flashes, as well as blurred vision. Also distortion or metamorphopsia. All these symptoms may indicate the presence of a vitreoretinal pathology.
Diagnosis is usually made in consultation with a basic examination, although it can be completed with ultrasound, angiography or OCT (optical coherence tomography).
Risk factors
Age, diabetes, myopia and trauma are the most frequent factors in the development of vitreoretinal pathology. On other occasions there is no specific risk factor. Also a history of eye problems in the contralateral eye or a family history (often related to myopia).
Treatment
Sometimes symptoms may be transient and improve with time (e.g. age-related vitreous detachment). On other occasions, systemic or intraocular treatment is needed. Laser photocoagulation can also treat retinal tears in the absence of retinal detachment.
Finally, vitrectomy and scleral surgery or pneumatic retinopexy can be used to treat retinal detachments.
Vitrectomy consists of surgery with a small incision at the level of the vitreous, using material specially developed for this technique. It can often be performed on an outpatient basis and under local anaesthesia, with good results in many cases.