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Vitreous
Detachment
What is
vitreous?
The large space toward the back of your eye between the lens
and the retina is called vitreous space. It is filled with material, which has
the consistency of a soft, clear jelly.
What is
vitreous detachment?
The vitreous is tightly attached to the outer wall
of the eye or the retina. With time the vitreous tends to shrink and pull away
from the retina. This pulling away may be accompanied by the sensation of
flashing lights or black spots. These black spots tend to move around and come
and go. They are often called floaters. The technical term for these black
spots is called vitreous detachment.
When the floaters
first occur, especially when they are associated with flashed of light, there
is a very small chance of a more serious problem occurring - that is, a retinal
detachment. If you were to develop a retinal detachment, there would be a
sudden, profound decrease in your vision, like a curtain coming down over the
vision. However, the chances of a retinal detachment occurring are about 1 in
10,000. |
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