vitrectomy

[curtis221]

Will a vitrectomy fix flashes and phosphenes? You said yesterday they can't be fixed. Do they usually go away on their own? After the vitreous pulls away or liqufies will it eventually lessen over time? Thanks.

[Belledonna]

Wow--thanks alot for the information. The eye is  complex and mysterious---we are fortunate to have  vision and to be making strides to preserve it through such complex operations as the vitrectomy.

[Ag-i-doc]

could "show up" at any time.  20 years later, even.

[Belledonna]

If one had a hard traumatic blow to the head , would the traction show up witin a week or two or  could it occur a year or two later--also , could head shaking cause this--such as on a ride at the circus or  when performing a task such as sawing wood  which creates a lot of head movement?

[Belledonna]

If one had a hard traumatic blow to the head , would the traction show up witin a week or two or  could it occur a year or two later--also , could head shaking cause this--such as on a ride at the circus or  when performing a task such as sawing wood  which creates a lot of head movement?

[Belledonna]

Hi--
What causes the vitreous traction? Is this an aging process or related to hormonal changes?                                 could a hard blow to the head -such as from a bad fall also cause this?
Could it be a result of an autoimmune disorder such as MS or RA?

[Ag-i-doc]

age & blow to the head could cause traction.  RA, MS and hormone changes cannot.

anything that causes dehydration of the vitreous (like age) or physical, violent movement to the vitreaous base (trauma) can cause traction...

[Ag-i-doc]

you cant know the difference.  the vitrectomy would be diagnostic to some extent.  if they could somehow know the difference between occult traction and pressure phosphene objectively (not based on symptoms) before the surgery, then they'd have already done that.  if you had a vitrectomy and the flashes stopped, it was likely traction.  if you had a vitrectomy and the flashes were still present, it is likely phosphene.

[mel07green]

wonder how you would know the difference? is it a case of exclusion??

[Forum-OD-MP]

if your flashes are in fact from vitreal traction (debatable) then yes, in theory it could be fixed by a vitrectomy.  a little extreme IMO but certainly possible.

if your flashes are true pressure phosphenes caused by physical pressure exerted from extraocular musculature, etc...then no, a vitrectomy will have no effect.