Posterior Vitreous Detachment

When we age, the vitreous gel thickens and starts to shrink. This causes it to pull away from the retina. The detachment is called posterior vitreous detachment or PVD. Debris from the detachment site drifts into the vitreous and becomes floaters. When PVD happens, a larger sized floater usually develops. This type of floater can look like a cobweb or a veil that blocks part of the vision field. PVD causes the vitreous gel to pull on the retina, producing flashes. When a person is seeing several floaters and flashing lights, it is often a sign of PVD.

PVD is more likely to occur if a person has had cataract surgery, trauma to the eye or inflammation inside the eye. PVD also occurs more frequently in near-sighted people than in people with normal vision. In most cases, the vitreous will separate cleanly from the retina and will not cause any further problems. The flashes gradually fade away, and then disappear altogether. Floaters caused by PVD may continue, but become less noticeable within two to three months. For some people, the detachment of the vitreous from the retina can cause a tear in the retina. This tear can cause the retina to detach from the back of the eyeball, a serious condition that can cause loss of vision and blindness. 

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