Overview

The vitreous is the clear, jelly-like substance in your eye. It provides shape and nutrients to your eye.

Posterior vitreous detachment is when this jelly becomes more liquid, and comes away (detaches) from your retina (the light-sensitive layer at the back of your eye). It then starts to move around.

Causes of posterior vitreous detachment

The vitreous changes with age, so posterior vitreous detachment usually affects people over the age of 65. There is nothing you can do to prevent it.

Signs and symptoms

You might notice:

• black ‘floaters’ in your vision which move and then settle as the eye rests
• flashing lights like little flickers in the edges (periphery) of your vision.

Posterior vitreous detachment does not permanently affect your eyesight.

How it's diagnosed

An ophthalmologist (eye doctor) or nurse practitioner will put eye drops into your eye to dilate your pupil (make it larger). This allows them to look at the middle and back of your eye with a microscope. These eye drops will affect your vision and make things appear blurred. This usually lasts for 2 to 3 hours.

You must not drive while your vision is affected.

Treatment options

There is no treatment available for posterior vitreous detachment. By having your eyes checked, you can be reassured that this is the cause of your symptoms and nothing more serious. You might find the symptoms irritating at first, but they will settle and gradually become easier to live with. Unfortunately there is nothing you can do to make the symptoms go away.

When to get help