What is a Posterior Vitreous Detachment (PVD)?
PVD is a common eye condition that can cause:
-
Floaters – small spots, lines, or cobweb shapes in your vision
-
Flashes of light
It happens to more than half of people over the age of 65.
What Causes It?
Inside your eye is a gel called the vitreous humor. This gel fills the middle of the eye and is normally attached to the retina (the thin, light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye).
As you age:
-
The vitreous gel shrinks and becomes more liquid
-
It may pull away from the retina in some places
-
This process is called posterior vitreous detachment
Is it Serious?
-
PVD is a natural part of aging and very common
-
It can be annoying due to floaters or flashes
-
But it almost never causes lasting damage to your vision
-
Symptoms often get better with time as your brain adjusts
What Causes a Posterior Vitreous Detachment?
The most common cause of PVD is aging. As we get older, the gel (vitreous humor) inside the eye naturally shrinks and pulls away from the retina.
PVD can also happen:
-
After cataract surgery or other eye procedures
-
After an eye injury
-
In people who are nearsighted (can’t see far away clearly without glasses)
Is PVD Inherited?
No, PVD is not passed down from parents to children.
However, some more serious eye conditions like retinal detachment can run in families. Tell your eye doctor if anyone in your family has had a retinal detachment.
What Are the Symptoms of PVD?
You may notice:
-
Floaters – small dark shapes like dots, lines, or cobwebs that drift across your vision
-
Flashes of light – brief flashes, especially in the sides of your vision
-
Blurry or shadowy areas, especially in low light
These symptoms happen because the vitreous gel is:
-
Becoming more liquid
-
Pulling away from the retina
-
Casting shadows (floaters) or triggering signals (flashes)
Most people find these symptoms:
-
Improve with time
-
Become less noticeable as the vitreous settles
Are There Any Complications?
Most people with PVD do not have serious problems.
But in some cases, PVD can lead to:
-
Retinal tears – when the gel pulls too hard and causes a small break in the retina
-
Retinal detachment – when the retina pulls away from the back of the eye (can cause vision loss)
-
Vitreous hemorrhage – bleeding into the eye if a blood vessel is torn
These are emergencies. See an eye doctor right away if you have:
-
Sudden increase in floaters
-
A curtain or shadow in your vision
-
Sudden vision loss or flashing lights
See a Doctor Right Away if:
-
You notice a curtain-like effect moving across your vision. This curtain-like effect may come up from the bottom, down from the top, or move across your vision
-
You notice the flashing of light and floaters in your vision are not getting better over time or are getting worse
How is PVD Diagnosed?
PVD is diagnosed with an eye exam by an ophthalmologist.
-
Your pupils will be dilated using eye drops
-
This helps the doctor get a better look at the back of your eye, especially the retina and vitreous gel
How is PVD Treated?
Most of the time, no treatment is needed.
-
PVD usually gets better on its own over time
-
You may notice floaters or flashes at first, but these symptoms often fade within a few weeks or months
-
Your brain gradually learns to ignore the floaters, so you see them less and less
If PVD leads to a retinal tear or detachment, surgery may be needed to repair the retina. That’s why follow-up is important if you develop new or worsening symptoms.
What Can I Do to Help Myself?
Here are some tips that may make symptoms easier to manage:
Wear sunglasses – Especially on bright days, this can reduce glare and make floaters less noticeable
Use your prescription glasses – Wearing your distance or reading glasses can help improve clarity and reduce distraction from floaters
Be patient – Most floaters fade with time. Try to avoid focusing on them, and they’ll likely become less noticeable
306-949-2028
3156 Avonhurst Drive, Regina Sask. S4R 3J7
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Monday to Friday - 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Flashes & Floaters
What is a Posterior Vitreous Detachment (PVD)?
PVD is a common eye condition that can cause:
-
Floaters – small spots, lines, or cobweb shapes in your vision
-
Flashes of light
It happens to more than half of people over the age of 65.
What Causes PVD?
Inside your eye is a gel called the vitreous humor. This gel fills the middle of the eye and is normally attached to the retina (the thin, light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye).
As you age:
-
The vitreous gel shrinks and becomes more liquid
-
It may pull away from the retina in some places
-
This process is called posterior vitreous detachment
Is it Serious?
-
PVD is a natural part of aging and very common
-
It can be annoying due to floaters or flashes
-
But it almost never causes lasting damage to your vision
-
Symptoms often get better with time as your brain adjusts
What Causes a Posterior Vitreous Detachment?
The most common cause of PVD is aging. As we get older, the gel (vitreous humor) inside the eye naturally shrinks and pulls away from the retina.
PVD can also happen:
-
After cataract surgery or other eye procedures
-
After an eye injury
-
In people who are nearsighted (can’t see far away clearly without glasses)
Is PVD Inherited?
No, PVD is not passed down from parents to children.
However, some more serious eye conditions—like retinal detachment—can run in families. Tell your eye doctor if anyone in your family has had a retinal detachment.
What Are the Symptoms of PVD?
-
Floaters – small dark shapes like dots, lines, or cobwebs that drift across your vision
-
Flashes of light – brief flashes, especially in the sides of your vision
-
Blurry or shadowy areas, especially in low light
These symptoms happen because the vitreous gel is:
-
Becoming more liquid
-
Pulling away from the retina
-
Casting shadows (floaters) or triggering signals (flashes)
Most people find these symptoms:
-
Improve with time
-
Become less noticeable as the vitreous settles
Are There Any Complications?
Most people with PVD Do Not have serious problems.
But in some cases, PVD can lead to:
-
Retinal tears – when the gel pulls too hard and causes a small break in the retina
-
Retinal detachment – when the retina pulls away from the back of the eye (can cause vision loss)
-
Vitreous hemorrhage – bleeding into the eye if a blood vessel is torn
See A Doctor Right Away If You Have:
-
You notice a curtain-like effect moving across your vision. This curtain-like effect may come up from the bottom, down from the top, or move across your vision
-
You notice the flashing of light and floaters in your vision are not getting better over time or are getting worse
These are emergencies. See an eye doctor right away if you have:
-
Sudden increase in floaters
-
A curtain or shadow in your vision
-
Sudden vision loss or flashing lights
How is PVD Diagnosed?
PVD is diagnosed with an eye exam by an ophthalmologist:
-
Your pupils will be dilated using eye drops
-
This helps the doctor get a better look at the back of
your eye, especially the retina and vitreous gel
How is PVD Treated?
Most of the time, no treatment is needed.
-
PVD usually gets better on its own over time
-
You may notice floaters or flashes at first, but these symptoms often fade within a few weeks or months
-
Your brain gradually learns to ignore the floaters, so you see them less and less
If PVD leads to a retinal tear or detachment, surgery may be needed to repair the retina. That’s why follow-up is important if you develop new or worsening symptoms.
What Can I Do to Help Myself?
Here are some tips that may make symptoms easier to manage:
Wear sunglasses – Especially on bright days, this can reduce glare and make floaters less noticeable
Use your prescription glasses – Wearing your distance or reading glasses can help improve clarity and reduce distraction
from floaters
Be patient – Most floaters fade with time. Try to avoid focusing on them, and they’ll likely become less noticeable
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306-949-2028
eyesurgeonsofregina@gmail.com
3156 Avonhurst Drive, Regina Sask. S4R 3J7
Monday to Friday - 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.