[Leica] EYES!

[images at comporium.net (Tina Manley)]

I'm probably describing it wrong.  It is a membrane which has detached from
the retina.  I saw a specialist about it three years ago and they were
waiting for it to completely detach because there is a danger it will tear
the macula as it detaches.  It's good news that has detached without
tearing.  From Wiki:

A *posterior vitreous detachment (PVD)* is a condition of the eye in which
the vitreous membrane <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitreous_membrane>
separates
from the retina <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retina>. It refers to the
separation of the posterior hyaloid membrane from the retina anywhere
posterior to the vitreous base <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitreous_base> 
(a
3-4mm wide attachment to the ora
serrata<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ora_serrata>.)
Synchysis: there is associated vitreous liquefaction. Syneresis: there is
collapse of the vitreous due to collection of synchytic fluid between the
posterior hyaloid membrane and the internal limiting membrane of the retina.

Broadly speaking, the condition is common for older adults and over 75% of
those over the age of 65 develop it. Although less common among people in
their 40s or 50s, the condition is not rare for those individuals. Some
research has found that the condition is more common among
women.[1]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Posterior_vitreous_detachment#cite_note-1>
[2] <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Posterior_vitreous_detachment#cite_note-2>

The vitreous <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitreous_humour> (Latin="glassy")
is a gel which fills the eye <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_eye> behind
the lens <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lens_(anatomy)>. Between it and the
retina <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retina> is the vitreous
membrane<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitreous_membrane>.
Over time the vitreous changes, shrinking and developing pockets of
liquefaction, similar to the way a
gelatin<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gelatin> dessert
shrinks, or detaches, from the edge of a pan over time. At some stage the
vitreous membrane may peel away from the retina. This is usually a sudden
event, but may also occur slowly over months.

Age and refractive error play a role in determining the onset of PVD in a
healthy person. PVD is rare in
emmetropic<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emmetropic> people
under the age of 40 years, and increases with age to 86% in the 90s.
Several studies have found a broad range of incidence of PVD, from 20% of
autopsy cases to 57% in a more elderly population of patients (average age
was 83.4 years).

People with myopia <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myopia> (nearsightedness)
greater than 6 diopters <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diopters> are at
higher risk of PVD at all ages. Posterior vitreous detachment does not
directly threaten vision. Even so, it is of increasing interest because the
interaction between the vitreous body and the retina might play a decisive
role in the development of major pathologic vitreoretinal conditions, such
as epiretinal membrane <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epiretinal_membrane>.


Probably more than you want to know!


Tina


On Wed, Oct 30, 2013 at 4:08 PM, Scott Gregory <scottgregory at mac.com> 
wrote:

> Tina I thought a detached retina meant one cannot see??
>
> Scott
>
> > On Oct 30, 2013, at 3:58 PM, Tina Manley <images at comporium.net> wrote:
> >
> > Great news from the eye doctor!  The reason my glasses don't work any
> more
> > is because they are way too strong.  My eyes have gotten better ;-)  In
> > fact, I can probably do without glasses for focusing my Leica because my
> > left eye only needs -.75 and I think the Leica already has -.5 built in,
> > right?  I'm going to try it anyway.  As soon as the eye drops wear off.
>  I
> > can't see anything right now!
> >
> > The detaching retina which was pulling on the macular part of my eye has
> > completely detached, which is a good thing.  It's not stretching anymore
> > and there is no danger of a hole in the macula.
> >
> > New glasses on order but won't be ready until after the trip to Italy.
> >
> > Thanks for all of the advice!
> >
> >
> > Tina
> >
> > --
> > Tina Manley
> > http:// <http://tina-manley.artistwebsites.com/>www.tinamanley.com
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Leica Users Group.
> > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
>
> _______________________________________________
> Leica Users Group.
> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
>
>


-- 
Tina Manley
http:// <http://tina-manley.artistwebsites.com/>www.tinamanley.com