Posterior Vitreous Detachment: Current Concepts and Management

Authors and Disclosures

Alan Ang, FRCO, PHTH, Arabella V. Poulson, FRCO, PHTH, David R.J. Snead, FRCP, ATH, and Martin P. Snead, Md, FRCO, PHTH

Drs. Ang, Poulson, and Martin P. Snead are affiliated with the Vitreoretinal Service, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, United Kingdom. Dr. David R.J. Snead is affiliated with the Pathology department, University Hospitals of Coventry and Warwickshire, Coventry, United Kingdom

Sidebar: Focus Points

The identification of a detached posterior hyaloid membrane within the vitreous cavity is key to diagnosing posterior vitreous detachment in an eye.

Patients at increased risk of posterior vitreous detachmentrelated retinal tears include those with:

1. Lattice retinopathy
   
   

2. Previous retinal tear or detachment in the fellow eye
   
   

3. Family history of retinal tear or detachment
   
   

4. Myopia
   
   

5. Abnormal vitreous gel architecture and Stickler syndrome
   
   

6. Primary early-onset nuclear sclerosis
   
   

Signs associated with retinal tears include:

1. Anterior vitreal cells
   
   

2. Vitreous hemorrhage
   
   

3. Pigment granules
   
   

The recognition of patients at risk of developing posterior vitreous detachment-related retinal tears and timely interventions represent the only effective way of preventing visual loss from rhegmatogenous retinal detachment.