Vitreolysis

Fluctuations in front of the eyes become history with vitreolysis.

What is Vitreolysis Treatment?

Flying objects or small black spots that appear in front of your eyes when there is no reason is characterizing the disease we are talking about. Thanks to the application of Vitreolysis laser, which is shot with one billionth of a second, this treatment can be managed without the need of hospitalization. 

What is Vitreolysis?

Vitreolysis, also known as laser treatment of flying objects, is a painless procedure performed outside the eye which can eliminate the visual discomfort caused by flying objects. The aim of vitreolysis is to perform a "functional recovery". In short, the aim is to allow the person to return to his “normal daily activities without the obstacle to flying objects or black spots.

How does Vitreolysis work?

Vitreolysis removes the nanosecond laser beam by vaporizing particles and strands in the vitreous which cause vitreous turbidity. During this process, the collagen and hyaluronic molecules of the flying objects are converted into a gas. As a result, the flying objects are destroyed and / or brought to a size that will not obstruct the view.

What happens during the process?

Vitreolysis is an outpatient procedure; there is no need for hospitalization. Immediately before the treatment, your eye doctor will apply an eye drop that provides a mild anesthetic effect.

A microscope will then be used to guide the laser beam into the eye by placing a contact lens in contact with your eye.

During the treatment, you will probably observe small, dark spots or shadows which will show us that volatiles are transformed into small gas bubbles. These gas bubbles are quickly dissolved and absorbed in the vitreous.

Once your treatment is complete, your ophthalmologist may drop anti-inflammatory drops into your eyes.

Each treatment session typically lasts 15-20 minutes and most patients will need 2 or 3 sessions treatment sessions to achieve a good result.

What can I expect after the treatment?

Immediately after the treatment, you can observe small dark spots below your field of view, but these small gas bubbles will disappear in a short time. In addition, some patients may experience mild discomfort, redness or temporary blurred vision immediately after the treatment.

Complications and Side Effects

Reported side effects and complications associated with vitreolysis are rare. Side effects may include cataract and sudden elevation of intraocular pressure.

Who can benefit from this treatment?

To understand your compliance with vitreolysis, an eye examination is necessary .

Age. Inflows can be seen at any age. The examination of especially young patients is important. If the problem area is too close to the natural lens and retina in the eye, it is not appropriate to make laser. However, most of the flying objects are not located close to the natural lens and the retina and are usually in the middle of the vitreous. They are ideal for laser application. This assessment will be made by your doctor and the final decision will be your doctors.

Cataract. After cataract surgery, many people are aware of what they see better, and they are aware of pre-existing and unseen objects. These patients are ideal candidates for this treatment.

Beginning of symptoms. If your symptoms of flying objects develop very quickly, perhaps a PVD that develops behind the eye (separation of the vitreous layer from the retina) may be associated with vitreolysis.

Comprehension Properties. Great fluctuations away from the retina with soft borders are ideal for treatment with vitreolysis.

What is a Degenerative Vitreous Syndrome?

The vitreous is a transparent, jelly substance that fills the largest cavity of the eye between the lens and the retina.

At a young age, the vitreous fluid is completely transparent. As our eyes get older, the vitreous fluid begins to lose its shape and becomes more liquid. In this case, where there is no balanced vitreous, the collagen fibers stick together to form clusters. These fibers are the shadows on the retina, seen as dots, strands or spider webs. This is generally referred to as a ‘flying object’.

In most cases, when the eye got older, the vitreous can be completely separated from the retina. It is known as Posterior Vitreous Separation (PVD). The formation of PVD often causes a sudden increase in the complaints.

Types of Eye Fluctuations

Eye fluctuations are small particles that float in the vitreous. The shadow of these particles falls on the retina (a layer of light sensitive tissue behind the eye). If you see flying objects, you will actually see these shadows flying in front of your visual field.

Thready fluctuations:

As a result of the clustering of collagen fibers in the vitreous, these thin, dense fluctuations are seen in the form of many point and / or thready spider webs and generally occur in young people. Depending on the size and whereabouts, this situation can be treated with vitreolysis.

Effuse fluctuations:

This cloud-shaped shadows take place depending on the natural aging process. Although this type of disease can sometimes be treated with vitreolysis, it usually requires more treatment sessions to achieve successful results.

Weiss Ring fluctuations:

The Ring-shaped Weiss Ring fluctuations is a large flying object, usually at a safe distance from the lens and retina. Therefore, it can be treated safely and effectively with vitreolysis.

What if Vitreolysis is useless for me?

Clinical studies have shown that vitreolysis is a safe and effective treatment for many patients. However, if the complaints continue, your ophthalmologist may recommend a surgery.

Depending on the diagnosis, there are appropriate types of surgeries. With the surgical procedure performed in a operating room, all of the vitreous or just a part is taken out and replaced with a balanced salt solution. The surgical procedure carries a significant risk of infection and bleeding and may also end with a cataract development. The surgical procedure can take 1-2 hours on average.