Vitreomacular Traction
Macula is the small area at the center of the retina, which consists of a thin tissue that lines at the posterior chamber of the eye. The macula is the most sensitive part of the retina. Macula helps us read and do detailed visual tasks.
Vitreomacular traction happens when the thick vitreous gel that fills the eye, shrinks and pulls away from the macula. This condition may happen to many people as the eye ages.
Vitreomacular traction diagnosis
Vitreomacular traction can be diagnosed through fundoscopy (fundus examination through dilated pupils), where the specialized ophthalmologist can notice that the retina is lifted up and there is fluid in the regions where the retina is attracted by the vitreous body.
There are special examinations for the direct diagnosis of the condition. Fluorescein Angiography is an examination which uses an intravenous injected fluorescent liquid that may assess the blood flow of the retina. In this case, photographs can give us information about the extent of the disease.
A non-invasive valuable examination is called Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT). This examination uses light at specific wave length, which reflects over the retinal tissue and can give us information about the thickness of the retina, as well as the fluid’s diffusion through the retinal tissue.
Vitreomacular traction treatment
There are cases where the vitreomacular traction does not cause vision impairment. In these cases the treatment is not necessary. However, the ophthalmologist should suggest regular follow ups at the office, so as to control its progress and to prevent its harmful consequences on vision.
In cases where the vitreous body is shrinking and vision becomes worse, the surgical treatment is suggested, called vitrectomy, so that the surgeon ophthalmologist can release the traction which was created on the patient. Vitrectomy is performed under local anesthesia, so is painless. In addition, this surgical procedure does not require accommodation in the hospital. During vitrectomy, the surgeon ophthalmologist, using special tools removes any thin films and membranes which are created on the macular area.
Finally, there is a new treatment for vitreomacular traction, called Jetrea. Jetrea is administered injectable and its goal is to avoid surgery in patients who suffer from vitreomacular traction.
Vision improvement after vitreomacular traction surgery
The rate (percentage) of vision which is restored after a vitreomacular traction surgery depends on the severity of the condition and how long the vitreomacular traction was present before the surgery.
After the surgical procedure, the patients can gradually restore their vision over time, which ranges from weeks to some months.
