Eye Floater by Posterior Vitreous Detachments, PVD

 

Eye Floater by Posterior Vitreous Detachments, PVD

A posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) is a medical condition of the eye in which the vitreous separate from the retina. The vitreous or vitreous humor is a jelly-like material and consists of water and the collagen fibers that hold the eye in its ball-like shape or eyeball.  Therefore, the function of vitreous is to maintain the shape of the eyes, and to pass light to the retina for the visual perception as the vitreous is a clear substance.

Another function of vitreous is to support retina that is located immediately behind the vitreous, which may be the cause of PVD as one get older. PVD is a common process of aging as the vitreous slowly shrinks. As collagen fibers start pulling away from the retinal, people start notice the floaters. The PVD occur more at age >50 years old. People with nearsighted (myopia), cataract surgery, eye injury and inflammation are at increased risk.

People with PVD may see floaters as tiny shadows or dark spots (range from a few to hundred), appear like cobwebs or specks, due to the bleeding from vitreous detachment torn the retina; flashes of light (often see in the side vision) due to vitreous pulls the retina causing the ‘light flashes’. Sometimes,  flashes may appear being a perfect circle. Vision is generally not affected but may be decreased over the time.

Please go to see your doctor as soon as possible for diagnosis and treatment if you start seeing floaters.