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A-Z Glossary

Table of Contents

Vitreous Body

Courtney Dryer, OD
Written byCourtney Dryer, OD
Courtney Dryer, OD
Courtney Dryer, ODOptometristCharlotte, NC

Bio

Dr. Courtney Dryer earned her doctorate from Southern College of Optometry, Memphis, Tennessee in 2011. She opened her own practice Autarchic Spec Shop in 2013 in Charlotte, NC. She has had the privilege of writing for numerous optometric publications and serving in various industry capacities. In 2015, Vision Monday named her a rising star and one of the most influential women in optometry. Her optometric passions include practice management, specialty contact lenses, and dry eye management.

  • Last updated March 22, 2023

What is the Vitreous Body?

The vitreous body or vitreous humor is the clear, gelatinous extracellular matrix (ECM) structure that fills the posterior part of the eye. It is made of 40 ECMs and a list of non-ECM proteins, such as albumin, transferrin, and vitellogenin. The vitreous matrix is maintained with little changes throughout life. The gel of the vitreous body does undergo an age-dependent liquefaction which is a continuous loss of collagen IX and collagen II fibrils. The matrix network does not regenerate after vitrectomy.

Key Takeaways

  • The vitreous body is a colorless, gelatinous material that fills the back of the eye.
  • It provides nutrients, coordinates eye growth, and supports the retina.
  • Vitreous detachments, vitreous hemorrhages, and syneresis can affect vision.
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Understanding Vitreous Body

The vitreous body is a transparent, gel-like mass whose main component is water. It plays a role in providing nutrients to the lens, coordinates eye growth and provides support to the retina. It is located close to the retina and may be affected by retinal changes. 

Conditions Affecting the Vitreous Body

Vitreous hemorrhages, detachments, and syneresis may affect the vitreous body and decrease one’s vision clarity.

Vitreous Hemorrhage

A spontaneous vitreous hemorrhage can be serious and has a prevalence of 7 per 100,000 people per year. A vitreous hemorrhage is a bleed in the vitreous caused by pathologic mechanisms that disrupt normal retinal vessels, bleeding from diseased retinal vessels and abnormal new vessels, or extension of a hemorrhage through the retina. A hemorrhage into the vitreous body results in rapid clot formation and is followed by slow clearance of approximately 1% per day. A posterior vitreous hemorrhage may be the result of a retinal tear, diabetic retinopathy, vascular proliferation after retinal vein occlusion, age-related macular degeneration or Terson’s syndrome.

Posterior Vitreous Detachment

Posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) is defined as the separation of the posterior vitreous cortex from the inner limiting membrane of the retina. It is commonly associated with aging.  A PVD results from the vitreous gel becoming more liquid, which can place traction on the peripheral retina, resulting in rhegmatogenous detachments, pulling on the macula, optic disc, retinal blood vessels, and the creation of premacular membranes that contribute to macular pucker and holes. Posterior vitreous detachment is estimated to occur in two-thirds of those older than 65 years.

Vitreous Syneresis

Syneresis is the liquefaction of the vitreous body which may lead to a floater or PVD. The contraction occurs with age, but may occur with trauma or injury.

Symptoms of the Vitreous Body

An increase in the number of floaters and flashes of light may indicate changes in the vitreous body. Flashes and floaters can be symptoms of a retinal detachment and should be checked immediately by an eye doctor. 

Diagnosing Disorders of the Vitreous Body

A doctor may view changes to the vitreous during a dilated fundus examination. Fundus photography may pick up large changes to the vitreous body.

Vitreous Body Treatments

There are no treatments for changes in the vitreous humor resulting in floaters. A vitrectomy may be performed for a vitreous hemorrhage that does not clear and impedes vision. A vitrectomy is rarely performed for floaters resulting from posterior vitreous detachment or syneresis.

Bibliography

  1. Bergstrom R, Czyz CN. Vitreous Floaters. [Updated 2022 Jul 5]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-.
  2. Conart JB, Berrod JP. Hémorragies du vitré non traumatiques [Non-traumatic vitreous hemorrhage]. J Fr Ophtalmol. 2016 Feb;39(2):219-25. French. doi: 10.1016/j.jfo.2015.11.001. Epub 2016 Jan 27. PMID: 26826742.
  3. Murthy, K.R., Goel, R., Subbannayya, Y. et al. Proteomic analysis of human vitreous humor. Clin Proteom 11, 29 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1186/1559-0275-11-29
  4. Sebag J. Posterior Vitreous Detachment. Ophthalmology. 2018 Sep;125(9):1384-1385. doi: 10.1016/j.ophtha.2018.05.018. Epub 2018 Aug 21. PMID: 30143091.
  5. Spraul CW, Grossniklaus HE. Vitreous Hemorrhage. Surv Ophthalmol. 1997 Jul-Aug;42(1):3-39. doi: 10.1016/s0039-6257(97)84041-6. PMID: 9265701.
  6. W. Halfter, M. Balasubramani, C. Ring, B. Schurer. Cellular Origin, Formation and Turnover of the Vitreous. Encyclopedia of the Eye. Academic Press. 2010,Pages 233-237,

 

Related Terms

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Scotopic Vision

refers to your eyes’ ability to see in low light levels

Pars Plana

is the posterior part of the ciliary body, located in the middle of the eye

Anophthalmos

is a medical condition defined as the complete absence of an eye from its eye socket

Retinal Pigment Epithelium

is a fundamental component of the retina that plays an important role in vision

Leber Congenital Amaurosis (LCA)

is a congenital retinal dystrophy resulting in nystagmus and significantly reduced vision

Retinoschisis

is a degeneration of the neurosensory retina (inner layer) and splitting at the outer plexiform layer of the retina

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