vitreoretinal

Vitreoretinal refers to the medical specialty and to diseases of the vitreous body, the retina, and the interface between them. The vitreous is a clear gel that fills the eye’s posterior segment and is normally attached to the retina at a few sites. With aging the gel liquefies and may detach from the retina (posterior vitreous detachment), a common change that can cause floaters, flashes, or traction on the retina.

Vitreoretinal diseases include epiretinal membrane, macular hole, and vitreomacular traction. Diseases affecting both the vitreous and retina include retinal detachment, diabetic retinopathy with fibrovascular proliferation, and proliferative vitreoretinopathy after detachment repair.

Diagnosis relies on dilated examination, optical coherence tomography (OCT), fluorescein angiography, and ultrasound when the media is opaque.

Treatment ranges from observation to surgery. Pars plana vitrectomy removes the vitreous to relieve traction or enable retinal repair; laser photocoagulation and scleral buckling or pneumatic retinopexy treat detachments. Intravitreal anti-VEGF or corticosteroid injections address neovascular disease. Enzymatic vitreolysis with ocriplasmin may help in selected vitreomacular traction cases.

Vitreoretinal specialists are ophthalmologists who complete fellowship training focused on posterior segment diseases and vitreoretinal surgery. They work in hospitals, clinics, and academic centers, and contribute to research on retinal diseases and surgical techniques. Advances include imaging, smaller-gauge vitrectomy systems, and gene therapies for inherited retinal conditions.