Do you have things like cobwebs and dust floating in front of your eyes? (Posterior Vitreous Detachment) Let's talk about this!

Have you ever felt something like a small spider or a speck of dust floating in front of your eye while you were sleeping? You tried to catch it, but you couldn't, right? Sometimes you see a flash of light from the corner of your eye, right? Many people have had this experience. Today we're talking about this very common, but somewhat scary, experience that occurs as we age, namely Posterior Vitreous Detachment (PVD).

What is really happening? (Posterior Vitreous Detachment - PVD)

Simply put, PVD is a natural change that occurs inside our eyes as we age. Think of our eyes as a small ball. This ball is filled with a clear, jelly-like substance called the vitreous gel . This jelly is what gives the eye its spherical shape.

Inside the eye, on the back wall, there is a very sensitive nerve membrane that works like the film in a camera. This is what we call the retina . It is the retina that collects the light coming from the things we see, converts it into electrical signals, and sends them to the brain.

When we are young, the jelly (vitreous gel) that I mentioned is firmly attached to the retina. But as we age, just like jelly separates from water after a while, this jelly also starts to liquefy gradually. Then it becomes less thick inside, shrinks a little, and slowly starts to separate from the retina on the back wall. That separation is what we call Posterior Vitreous Detachment (PVD) .

What are the symptoms of this? How do I recognize it?

When PVD occurs, there are usually two main symptoms that are seen. These can start suddenly.

If you experience these symptoms for the first time, it is important to see an eye care specialist (ophthalmologist) immediately. These same symptoms can also occur in other, more serious conditions. Therefore, it is essential to determine exactly what it is.

Why does PVD develop? Who is more likely to develop it?

The main cause is aging . The incidence of PVD increases significantly after the age of 50. It is estimated that about 66% of people between the ages of 65 and 85 will develop the condition. That's about two out of three people. In addition, there are several other risk factors:

• Nearsightedness / Myopia: If you are short-sighted (wearing glasses with a low number), your eye is slightly longer than the average person's. Therefore, the retina is stretched. This increases the risk of PVD.
• Diabetes: People with diabetes are at increased risk of PVD because it can cause eye complications.
• Eye injuries: If you have previously suffered a severe blow to the eye or been in an accident.
• Eye surgery: If you have had things like cataract surgery, the process of PVD can be accelerated.

If you develop PVD in one eye, there is a high chance that the other eye will develop it within the next year or two.

Is this dangerous? Can I lose my sight?

Here's the important thing. PVD itself is not usually a painful or dangerous condition that can cause vision loss. It's a natural process.

However, the problem is that when PVD occurs, that is, when that jelly separates from the retina, a very small number of people (less than 15%) can develop complications. Those complications are very dangerous and can lead to permanent vision loss if not treated promptly.

Dangerous complications that can occur due to PVD

That's why we say that as soon as you have symptoms of PVD, it's essential to get tested to see if you have these dangerous conditions.

How does a doctor find this?

When you go to see an eye doctor, he or she will ask about your symptoms and perform an eye exam. This is called a dilated eye examination .

What happens in this is that the doctor puts some eye drops in your eye and dilates the pupil. Then, a light is shined into the eye and special equipment is used to see the retina and vitreous gel at the back of the eye very clearly. This test can determine if you have PVD or any of the dangerous complications I mentioned.

Very rarely, if there is something like blood inside the eye and the back cannot be seen clearly, a test such as an ocular ultrasound may be performed.

Is there a treatment for PVD?

After examining your eyes, if the doctor confirms that you only have PVD and no complications, then no special treatment is needed.

However, the doctor will ask you to come back in about 4 or 6 weeks for a follow-up checkup . That is definitely something you should do. Because sometimes something like a retinal tear that was not seen during the first checkup can occur later. Therefore, it is important to take care of that as well.

There are surgeries for those floaters, but they are rarely done. Because even those surgeries can cause complications. Over time, our brains get used to these floaters and start to ignore them. After a while, you notice them less and less.

How do I live with these annoying 'floating things'?

These floaters and flashes can be a bit of a nuisance for a while, but there are a few things you can do to help you get used to them.

• Slowly move your eyes back and forth: If you notice a floater in the middle of your vision, slowly move your eyes up, down, left, and right. This will help the floater float away with the fluid in your eye.
• Reduce brightness: Reduce the brightness of computer, phone, and television screens.
• Wear sunglasses: Wear sunglasses when going out in bright sunlight. This will reduce the visibility of floaters.
• Wear the correct glasses: If you have been prescribed glasses for vision impairment, wear them properly.

The most important thing is to understand that this is normal and not to worry too much about it. Over time, you will feel these feelings less and less.