Professor Gilad Rabina: 10 percent of the population will develop retinal disease during their lifetime
Visual disturbances involving flashes of light, black dots or hairs moving in front of the eye as your gaze moves, clouding of the visual field, narrowing of the field as though looking through a ring, a feeling of heavy eyes, or blurred vision.
Do you think you see black flies or flashes of light in front of your eye? You may have an eye condition called posterior vitreous detachment. This is a common phenomenon occurring after age 65.
What is the posterior vitreous of the eye?
The vitreous is a transparent gel filling the space behind the eye's lens. It is attached to the retina. The likelihood of posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) increases with age. It commonly occurs after 65 because aging changes the gel's texture and consistency: the gel shrinks, fluid pockets form, and it peels away from the inner walls of the eye, damaging the retina. Posterior vitreous detachment happens suddenly and usually affects only one eye. Sensations vary between people, and some notice it only when their vision is affected.
From the web: Everything in one place: effective, rapid treatment of retinal diseases, Professor Gilad Rabina (Medico)
Signs of posterior vitreous detachment
Visual disturbances involving flashes of light, black dots or hairs moving in front of the eye as your gaze moves, clouding of the visual field, narrowing of the field as though looking through a ring, a feeling of heavy eyes, or blurred vision.
These signs result from changes in the vitreous gel's texture and the accumulation of pigment particles and cells during its separation from the eye's inner walls.
The flashes come from retinal stimulation caused by tension during posterior vitreous detachment; this mechanical stretching is interpreted by the eye as flashes of light.
Visiting Professor Gilad Rabina's clinic will enable you to determine whether there are further complications or whether the phenomenon will pass without damaging vision or eye tissue.
According to Professor Rabina's clinic, if posterior vitreous detachment causes tears in the retina or retinal blood vessels, treatment is recommended to contain the tear and prevent it from expanding.
Professor Gilad Rabina, from the medreviewscoil website
Professor Gilad Rabina, a specialist in retinal diseases
If the signs have been correctly diagnosed, the sensations and symptoms accompanying posterior vitreous detachment will pass within a few weeks. Incorrect treatment or diagnosis may lead to retinal detachment, a condition that threatens sight and requires surgery.
Conclusion
If you experience symptoms or signs characteristic of vitreous detachment, consult an ophthalmologist, says retinal specialist Professor Gilad Rabina. Professor Rabina trained in ophthalmology, retinal surgery and treatment of retinal diseases. He is a senior physician in the retina unit and a retinal and cataract surgeon in the ophthalmology department at Ichilov Medical Center in Tel Aviv. He is also a researcher and senior lecturer at Tel Aviv University.
