1. What You Need to Know About What You Need to Know About Vitreomacular Traction Vitreomacular Traction Vitreomacular traction is often referred to as VMT and is a disorder that effects the vitreoretinal interface. The macular is found in the heart of the retina and this provides you with crisp and clear vision. When this is compromised, your vision will become blurred and you will experience blind spots over time. The macular lies flat against the back of the eye and the vitreous is the clear gel that you find in the interior of the eye. The vitreous gel is what lifts the eye and over time this gel shrinks with age and slowly pulls away from the retina. In some instances, the macular may stick to the retina, pulling on the surface, this is called vitreomacular traction. There are limited symptoms when it comes to this eye condition, so if you experience any of the symptoms listed, then you should seek assistance from an eye specialist who can provide you with an eye examination to identify what may be causing your eye problems. Some of the symptoms you may experience when suffering from vitreomacular traction include blurred vision, blind spots and distorted vision. The good news is that this particular eye condition does not lead to blindness, in fact even when you experience blind spots it is limited to the centre of your vision, which means your peripheral vision is maintained at all times. In most instances the only way to identify if there is a problem is with an eye examination from an eye specialist. During the eye examination, the specialist will run numerous tests to see what could be causing your symptoms. They will then identify the problem and discuss this in detail with you to determine which treatment solution is the one that best meets your vision needs and requirements now and moving forward. When it comes to mild symptoms which aren’t affecting your daily life, the eye specialist will probably recommend no treatment, but regular monitoring. The monitoring enables them to identify how quickly this eye condition is progressing and whether further action needs to be taken in the treatment of your vitreomacular traction. Severe symptoms that interfere with your daily life will require treatment. A new eye injection called intravitreal Jetrea or Ocriplasmin is now approved for VMT treatment.

2. The injection is delivered using eydrops that numb the eyeball. This means that you can avoid eye surgery. In other cases of VMT, this requires surgery. Vitrectomy surgery is a very common surgery which is carried out by an experienced eye surgeon. It is a quick and effective surgery that requires you take it easy for a few days, giving your eye time to heal. The good news is that this particular surgery is carried out as a day case, so you can go home a couple of hours as long as you have someone to stay with you for at least twenty four hours. Vitreomacular tension surgery involves the surgeon making a small incision in your eye. This is done under local anaesthetic and while you are awake throughout the procedure, you will not experience any pain. With the incision completed, they will then carefully remove the vitreous from the eye and replace it with a synthetically produced gel. This is done to help improve your sight and vision improvement should be seen within a few days of surgery. The operation takes 20 minutes and has a low risk of complications. It is imperative after vitreomacular tension surgery that you follow the doctor’s instructions to the letter. You should definitely not drive for around two weeks to give your eye time to heal and for your vision to improve. Mahi Muqit is a leading consultant ophthalmologist, cataract and vitreoretinal surgeon at two private clinics in London, United Kingdom. He provides consultations and treatments at Moorfields Private and 119 Harley Street. He provides patients with superior service and support with a range of surgical procedures to meet their eye sight requirements. He has built up a solid reputation for his eye services in the London area as an expert eye doctor and surgeon offering surgical retina, medical retina and complex cataract surgery. He also offers surgery to patients suffering from diabetic retinopathy. Mahi Muqit is a member of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, a member of the British and Eire Association of Vitreoretinal Surgeons and the UK and Ireland Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons. To find out more, visit http://www.retinasurgeon.uk.com.