The inner layers are pulled inwards towards the vitreous cavity whilst the outer layers remain adherent to the eye wall. The retina is multi-layered and ongoing traction (“pull”) from the jelly can result in a swelling of the macular area as the retinal layers separate. In an eye affected by early stages of partial vitreous separation you can see Vitreo Macular Adhesion and slight traction starting:-Īs this continues, there is more advanced forward movement of the central macular or foveal tissue. In a typical unaffected patient the layers of the retina have the regular appearance as below:. OCT scans can image the layers of the retina so that we are able to visualise the effect vitreomacular traction has on the structures. This can result in distortion and/or blurring of vision. Vitreomacular traction is the term used to describe the vitreous as it pulls on the central macula area. Sometimes the vitreous jelly fails to release from the macular region. When the jelly pulls on the reina where it is thinnest at the Ora serrata, this can lead to holes and tears forming in the peripheral retina leading to a Retinal Detachment. In rare cases this when it does not fully detach, the jelly can tug on parts the retina, causing traction damage. when it does so completely it is called a Posterior Vitreous Detachment. As this progresses the vitreous jelly often separates from the retina. This can lead to ‘floaters’ appearing in the patients vision. This jelly is attached to the retina at the optic nerve, macula and periphery called the ora serata.Īs we age the jelly-like vitreous contracts and and degenerates, and becomes more liquid. The vitreous humour is a jelly-like substance which fills the majority of the posterior space in the eyeball. The pathway of light starts at the tear film passing through the cornea, aqueous humour before the iris (the coloured part of the eye), crystalline lens, vitreous humour and finally the inner layers of the retina. When light enters the eye it passes through the various tissues to reach the retina. This causes central visual impairment, either in the form of a generalised blurring or distortion. What is vitreomacular traction? Vitreomacular traction or VMT for short, is a condition in which shrinkage of the vitreous jelly within the eye pulls on the central macular area of retina. Southampton General Private Patients Unit.
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