Vitreomacular traction is when the vitreous doesn't successfully detach from the retina, which is part of the normal aging process. Some factors can increase your risk of developing this eye condition, such as age-related macular degeneration, which is common with aging and is when your macula starts to deteriorate.

1. Vitreomacular Traction Treatment, Causes, and
Symptoms
The vitreous is the clear, jelly-like substance that is responsible for filling the center of your eye. This is
connected to the macula and retina using millions of fibers. The macular is what is responsible for detailed
central vision.
Vitreomacular traction occurs when the vitreous of the eye pulls on the macula, causing damage to your
macula. The vitreous starts to shrink, pulling away from the macula. Eventually the vitreous detaches
completely from the retina, which is known as posterior vitreous detachment (PVD). This is a normal part of
the aging process and not something to be overly concerned about.
In some cases, the vitreous isn't successful at
completely detaching with some staying stuck to
your macula. When this happens, it constantly pulls
on the macula. This is known as vitreomacular
traction. If you ignore it, it can cause serious
problems, including scar tissue, swimming, and
holes. It can pull the retina out of position, which is
known as retinal detachment.
Vitreomacular traction is when the vitreous doesn't
successfully detach from the retina, which is part of
the normal aging process. Some factors can increase
your risk of developing this eye condition, such as
age-related macular degeneration, which is common
with aging and is when your macula starts to
deteriorate. Diabetic retinopathy also puts you in a higher risk bracket to develop vitreomacular traction. If
you are very near-sighted, you will find your risk also increases.
Vitreomacular degeneration does lead to symptoms, which you may be able to identify, often it changes
your vision. You may notice your vision sharpness has decreased or you experience distortions when you
look at straight lines, objects may also look smaller than they are. Often patients experience flashes of light
in the eye. It is not uncommon for the symptoms to develop slowly over time and they can mimic other eye
conditions, which is why you need to have your eyes checked by an optometrist or ophthalmologist.
If vitreomacular traction is suspected, the ophthalmologist will look inside the eye to confirm their
diagnosis using ultrasound, fluorescein angiography, or optical coherence tomography (oct).
Once they have confirmed that you have vitreomacular traction, they will recommend a treatment. There
are four treatment options available, based on the severity of your condition. They may recommend
monitoring, medication, pneumatic vitreolysis, or vitrectomy surgery.
Vitrectomy surgery is usually offered in severe cases. This is when the ophthalmologist makes a small cut in
your eye and removes the vitreous carefully from the retina. They will repair any damage to the retina
before filling your eye with saline or gas, helping the eye retain its shape.
They will recommend monitoring your condition if it doesn't cause vision changes. In some cases,
medication has proven successful. It dissolves the fibers that keep the vitreous stuck to the macular. It is
given as a single injection into the center of the eye. If this fails, they may recommend vitreomacular
traction surgery.

2. Pneumatic vitreolysis is a procedure where the ophthalmologist injects a gas bubble into the eye. The
bubble breaks the bond between the vitreous and the macular. You look down several times an hour over
days to ensure the bubble stays in the right position. Sometimes the eye doctor may recommend
pneumatic vitreolysis with medication to separate the vitreous gel.
About us: mahi muqit is a leading
consultant ophthalmologist, cataract, and
vitreoretinal surgeon at two private clinics in
london, united kingdom. He provides patients
with superior service and support with a range
of surgical procedures to meet their eyesight
requirements. He has built up a solid reputation for his eye services in the london area as an expert eye
doctor and surgeon offering surgical retina, medical retina, and complex cataract surgery. He also offers
surgery to patients suffering from diabetic retinopathy. Mahi muqit is a member of the royal college of
ophthalmologists, a member of the british and eire association of vitreoretinal surgeons, and the uk and
ireland society of cataract and refractive surgeons. To find out more,
visit https://www.retinasurgeon.uk.com/.