Vitreous opacity is a condition that often occurs in older people. In principle, vitreous opacity is harmless, but many of those affected find it disturbing and annoying. Here you can find out what you can do about it.
Here you will find further information and selected vitreous specialists.
The vitreous body is part of the eye. It fills the eyeball and provides the necessary pressure to prevent the eyeball from collapsing.
The light entering through the pupil passes through the vitreous body and hits the retina at the back of the eye. The vitreous body must therefore be transparent. It therefore consists almost exclusively of water. In addition, collagen and hyaluronic acid are also found in the vitreous body, albeit in much lower concentrations.
The composition of the vitreous body is strictly ordered. If this order is disrupted, vitreous opacity occurs with symptoms that can impair vision. Although vitreous opacification is harmless in itself, it can still affect people.
Older people are usually affected, as vitreous opacity is a consequence of the natural ageing process. Nevertheless, younger people can also suffer from vitreous opacity. Short-sighted people in particular are affected more frequently.
The vitreous body fills the eyeball and provides the necessary pressure. However, vitreous opacity can impair vision © Axel Kock | AdobeStock
Vitreous opacity is a painless side effect. The affected person perceives veils or dark spots in front of the eyes that seem to dance.
These symptoms worsen when the affected person
The perceived streaks and dots are not the brain's imagination: they actually exist in the vitreous humor.
If vitreous opacity is suspected, a visit to the ophthalmologist is necessary. The doctor must first rule out other eye diseases. To do this, he will ask the patient a few questions. For example, how long the patient has been experiencing these symptoms and how exactly they manifest themselves. The doctor will also ask the patient about other diseases that do not necessarily have anything to do with the eye.
In the further course of the diagnosis, the specialist will carry out a detailed examination of the eye. Before the examination, the patient is first given eye drops. During the slit lamp examination, the doctor shines a bright lamp into the patient's eye. In the case of vitreous opacity, a dark spot or shadow can then be seen in the eye.
However, if the suspicion is not confirmed, additional examinations are useful. For example, an ultrasound examination of the eye can clarify whether there is an injury to the retina. Other imaging procedures such as
can clarify whether there are foreign bodies in the eye and where they are located.
Medical opinions sometimes differ slightly with regard to treatment.
As a rule, vitreous opacity does not require any special treatment. Instead, those affected are given a few tips on how to make the streaks less noticeable. As streaks and dots are particularly noticeable against a bright background, it helps to reduce this:
Many doctors also advise not to concentrate too much on the symptoms, but to ignore them if possible.
However, there are also doctors and eye clinics that offer treatment in the form of surgery. These include the surgical removal of the vitreous humor. This is then replaced with a saline solution.
However, this operation is often criticized as the risks involved are quite high. For example, infections or retinal damage can occur. In the worst case, the patient may even go blind. Lens opacification is also one of the risks associated with such an operation.
Some doctors also carry out laser treatments . Here too, opinions differ. Not every form of vitreous opacity can be treated successfully.
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