Posterior Vitreous Detachment

The purpose of this study is to measure how the quality of life, the structure of eye, and vision change after treatment for the opacities in the gel (vitreous) that fills the center of eye which cause vision disturbances commonly called "floaters". In this study the vitreous floaters are treated using a Neodymium-doped yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Nd:YAG) laser. The FDA has approved the use of this laser to treat membranes in the eye.

The goal of this study is to determine if it's possible to use a high resolution imaging device called optical coherence tomography (OCT) to develop an unbiased, standard method of counting and categorizing the various types of cells and proteins found in an eye condition called anterior uveitis. Anterior uveitis is a type of inflammation in the eye that can be caused by many different diseases of the body.

The vitreous fills the posterior chamber of the eye and is firmly attached, at the posterior pole, to the macula and the optic nerve head (ONH). With formation of a stepwise posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) exerted tractional forces could influence retinal functioning. Especially in patients with glaucoma the influence of vitreous traction to the ONH could mask progression, interfere with current imaging techniques and even be a cause of ONH hemorrhages. Therefore the aim of this study is to investigate whether vitreopapillary traction has a significant effect on diagnosis and follow up of glaucoma patients.