Vítreas

Vítreas is the plural form used in ophthalmology to refer to the vitreous bodies of the eyes, the clear gel that fills the space between the lens and the retina. In humans, there are two vitreous bodies, one in each eye.

The vitreous is a gelatinous, transparent tissue that provides structural support to the globe and helps maintain ocular shape. It is composed mainly of water (about 98–99%) and a network of collagen fibers interlaced with hyaluronic acid. The vitreous body is divided into a peripheral cortical vitreous and a central, more liquefied area. Cells present in small numbers include hyalocytes, which participate in maintenance and remodeling of the matrix.

Anatomically, the vitreous is loosely attached to the retina at a few sites, including the vitreous base near the ciliary body, the optic disc, and the macula. With aging, the vitreous slowly liquefies (syneresis) and may detach from the retina, a process called posterior vitreous detachment. This detachment can be associated with floaters or, less commonly, retinal tears or detachment.

Clinically, the vitreous can be involved in several conditions, such as vitreous floaters, vitreous hemorrhage, inflammatory vitritis, or infections like endophthalmitis. Diagnosis is typically based on dilated eye examination, with adjunctive imaging such as optical coherence tomography (OCT) or ultrasound B-scan when the media are hazy.

Treatment ranges from observation for asymptomatic cases to surgical intervention (pars plana vitrectomy) for non-resolving problems, persistent hemorrhage, retinal detachment, or certain macular diseases. Laser therapy may be used for retinal tears, and intravitreal injections address associated retinal conditions.