Vitreous

The vitreous is a thicker and optically transparent jelly-like liquid which fills the larger part of the eye and helps maintain the shape of the eye.

What can go wrong?

The vitreous is a thick gel inside of the eye that helps maintain the eye’s shape. The vitreous itself is relatively inert and stable. Asteroid Hyalosis is a benign condition where small calcium-laden lipids suspend within the vitreous body, and rarely interferes with vision. In some patients, usually over the age of 50, the vitreous can tug on the retina and cause sudden onset “flashes and floaters”. This tugging can ultimately result in the vitreous detaching from the retina (posterior vitreous detachment, or PVD) or in some cases can cause a retinal tear that can lead to a retinal detachment. All symptoms of “flashing lights” or a sudden onset or “floaters” should be promptly reported to your eye doctor.