Vitreomacular Treatment, Symptoms and Causes – What You Need to Know

1. Vitreomacular Treatment, Symptoms and Causes Vitreomacular Treatment, Symptoms and Causes – – What You Need to Know You Need to Know What The vitreous is a gel like substance that fills your eye. It is connected to the macula and retina with tiny fibres. The macula is what helps you see detailed vision. Vitreomacular traction is a condition that causes the vitreous gel to pull on the macula, causing damage. It is caused when the vitreous gel starts to shrink, pulling away at the retina. Over time the gel will pull completely away from the retina. This is a normal part of the ageing process, known as posterior vitreous detachment, or PVD. There are situations where the vitreous gel doesn't detach completely, leaving some stuck to the macula. This pulls on the macula and causes vitreomacular traction. If untreated it can result in a macula hole, scar tissue and swelling. It can also cause the retina to move out of position, known as retinal detachment. Vitreomacular Traction Causes Vitreomacular traction is often caused by the vitreous gel not detaching from the retina completely as sou get older. Some things can increase the risk of developing this condition. Age related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, being extremely near-sighted and retinal vein occlusion can all increase the risk of developing this eye condition. Symptoms This eye condition can cause a number of different symptoms. You may experience one or all of the symptoms. Typical symptoms include:  Distorted vision where straight lines look wavy  A decrease in the sharpness of your vision  Flashes of light inside the eye  Objects look much smaller than they are Some people experience a slow onset on symptoms that can mimic other eye conditions. As a result, it's imperative that you have your symptoms checked by an experienced and qualified ophthalmologist to identify the cause of your visual problems. Diagnosis Vitreomacular traction is diagnosed by an ophthalmologist that will look inside your eye to diagnose the condition. They will use a variety of different imaging tests to come up with a diagnosis. One of the diagnosis tests used is a dynamic ultrasound that uses sound waves to create an image of the inside of your eye. It shows the ophthalmologist what your vitreous gel and retina looks like. Another common diagnostic test is Fluorescein angiography. This is when the ophthalmologist injects a dye into your arm that travels in the blood vessels up to your eye. They use a special camera to take photographs. The dye is bright tin the pictures, helping the surgeon identify where the problems inside your eye is. The most common diagnostic test used is OCT (Optical Coherence Tornography). It uses light waves to create cross sectional images of the retina layers. Vitreomacular Traction Treatment There are a number of treatments offered for this eye condition based on the severity of the eye condition. The most common is vitrectomy surgery. It is done as an outpatient basis where the retina surgeon makes a small cut in the eye and uses microscopes to see inside the eye. They use small tools to cut the connection between the vitreous gel and retina. They then repair the retina, if needed, before filling the eye with a gas bubble. In some cases, the retina surgeon may recommend monitoring the symptoms. This is offered when the vitreomacular traction is very mild and isn't causing any vision changes. You will visit the ophthalmologist at regular intervals to have your eyes examined to see if the vitreomacular traction is getting worse. If it is worsening, the doctor will probably recommend a vitrectomy. About Us: Mahi Muqit is a leading consultant ophthalmologist, cataract and vitreoretinal surgeon at two private clinics in London, United Kingdom. He provides patients with superior service and support with a range of surgical procedures to meet their eye sight requirements. He has built up a solid reputation for his eye services in the London area as an expert eye doctor and surgeon offering surgical retina, medical retina and complex cataract surgery. He also offers surgery to patients suffering from diabetic retinopathy. Mahi Muqit is a member of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, a member of the British and Eire Association of Vitreoretinal Surgeons and the UK and Ireland Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons. To find out more, visit https://www.retinasurgeon.uk.com/.