Vitreomacular Traction Treatment Explained The macular in the eye is a small area, located in the centre of the retina. The macular is the most sensitive part of the retina and gives us sharp vision, so we can do detailed visual tasks. As we age, the vitreous gel that fills the eye starts to shrink, pulling away from the macular. In some cases it is successful and in others, it remains partially stuck, pulling on the surface and causing distortion, this is known as vitreomacular traction or VMT. The vitreous gel shrinks with age and pulls away from the macular at various rates, each person is different. It will happen to most people in their lives. Vitreomacular traction only happens when there is an abnormally light adhesion between the vitreous and the macular. The only way to really diagnose vitreomacular traction is a retinal examination, which is done by an ophthalmologist or retinal surgeon. This includes evaluation the retina and the accumulated fluid in the area of the stretched retina. This involves specialist testing, including photographic assessments of the retinal blood flow after an injection of dye. Optical scans are also carried out, helping the ophthalmologist make an accurate diagnosis, determine the severity of the traction and come up with the right vitreomacular traction treatment based on your unique case.
Vitreomacular traction causes no symptoms in some people and mild symptoms in others. It does get worse and the traction is increased, at this point it distorts or blurs the central vision. The vitreomacular traction treatment you are provided is based on the severity of the condition. Where your vision is unaffected, you may not be offered any treatment, but rather use the wait and monitor approach with follow up examinations to see if the condition is getting any worse. There are cases where the VMT has resolved without treatment. In the majority of cases, the gel continues to shrink and the vision gets worse. At this point you will be offered a vitrectomy to release the traction. This painless surgery is an outpatient surgery and carried out under a local anaesthetic. During the surgery, which is invasive, the retinal surgeon uses microscopic instruments to release the adhesions. This involves carefully removing the vitreous gel from the eye and replacing it with a gas to aid in the healing process. The gas disappears over a few days or weeks and the eye naturally fills with vitreous gel again. The biggest question you probably have about vitreomacular traction treatment is whether the