A PVD, or Posterior Vitreous Detachment, is a naturally occurring event and will eventually happen to everyone. The vitreous, the watery gel, which fills the posterior portion of the eye, is composed of protein and mostly water. The vitreous is not regenerated and is a vestigial tissue.
With time, the vitreous proteins degenerate, hydrolyze or liquify. The posterior portion of the vitreous separates, or detaches, from the surface of the retina. Symptoms of a PVD usually include flashes…and floaters.
Dr. Wong,
To start, I have vision in only my right eye, having had the other removed at age two, due to a retinal bladtoma. I’m now 63. I had an eye emergency Sunday night, flashing in my eye (only eye, you know). Called my retina doc and met him Sunday evening. Turned out to be the vitreous gel pulling away from retina wall, normal in nearsighted people as they get older, but most don’t notice it, so I’m told.
Monday morning while outside, I noticed a “shower” of particles in my eye, like driving through the rain…. Back to the retina doc, less than 12 hours from before. Same thing, but this time, he noticed a slight bulge in the retina where I had laser surgery to tack down an area of lattice, some 15 yrs earlier. Also lots of floaters.
Today, during my guitar lesson, suddenly, I had huge brownish blobs in my field of vision….. So, off to the doc again. Upon examination, that bulge had torn open, a tear had formed within the previously laddered area of lattice, ..so I had some laser surgery to tack it all down. He feels that it’s that bulging, then tear that was causing my problems, all brought on by the PVD pulling on that area.
At least now I have an explanation for all of the issues of the past two days. The normal shrinking of the vitreous layer usually happens fast and isn’t noticeable. Mine got hung up on that old surgery, pulling at it, causing the flashes/floaters.
In any case, now I have loads of floaters. Showers of dots, cob-webbybthings too. I asked my retina specialist about it and he said there are surgeries, but I should wait 2-3 months as he feels that most PVD floaters will disappear in that time.
Does this sound feasible to you?
Phillip,
The best approach is to follow the advice of your doctor. Report any increase in flashes, floaters or a decrease in your vision. The biggest concern right now is looking out for symptoms of a retinal tear or retinal detachment. While both are unlikely, this is the most important time to be vigilant.
If you still have bother some floaters in a few months after this acute episode….then worry about the quality of your vision and consider removing the floaters if needed.
r