Vitreo-Macular Traction Specialist

Vitreomacular traction is a rare eye condition that can pull on your macula and interfere with your vision. At Retina Consultants Ltd. in Des Plaines, Libertyville, Elgin, and Hickory Hills, Illinois, the team of expert ophthalmologists diagnose vitreomacular traction and offer customized treatments to restore your eye health and protect your vision. Call Retina Consultants Ltd. or schedule a consultation online today for state-of-the-art ophthalmologic eye care.

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What is vitreomacular traction?

Your vitreous is the gel that fills your eyeballs. It’s attached to your retina with millions of microscopic fibers. As you age, it’s normal for your vitreous to shrink and detach from the back of your eye. Vitreomacular traction develops when your vitreous doesn’t completely detach, and it pulls on your macula.

Your macula is the part of your retina that provides central vision. Over time, vitreomacular traction can damage your macula and lead to vision loss and eventual blindness.

What causes vitreomacular traction?

Vitreomacular traction is rare in healthy eyes. Conditions like diabetic eye disease, age-related macular degeneration, and retinal vein occlusion increase your risk of developing vitreomacular traction. If you have high myopia (nearsightedness), you also have a higher chance of developing the condition.

What are the warning signs of vitreomacular traction?

Some of the early warning signs of vitreomacular traction include decreased sharpness of vision, an increased volume of floaters, and flashes of light. Objects might start to look smaller, and straight lines start to look wavy.

If you notice any of these symptoms, it’s critical that you make an appointment at Retina Consultants Ltd. Other eye diseases can cause similar symptoms, and getting the correct diagnosis is essential to starting treatment to protect your vision.

How is vitreomacular traction diagnosed?

To diagnose vitreomacular traction, your ophthalmologist reviews your symptoms and medical history. They complete a comprehensive eye exam and may use optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging, ultrasound scans, or fluorescein angiography to view your retina and macula and make a final diagnosis.

How is vitreomacular traction treated?

The ophthalmologists at Retina Consultants Ltd. begin with a comprehensive eye exam including tests like:

• Optical coherence tomography
• Fluorescein angiography
• Ultrasounds

If you have vitreomacular traction, your ophthalmologist can take one of three approaches to treatment.

If your condition is mild, they can recommend a wait-and-see approach. This involves occasional appointments with your ophthalmologist to check your vision and the severity of your condition.

A second approach is to prescribe ocriplasmin, a medication that dissolves the tiny fibers that are holding your vitreous to your macula.

In severe cases, your ophthalmologist could recommend a vitrectomy — surgery to remove the vitreous gel, replace it with saline fluid, and reshape your macula. Your ophthalmologist can also remove any scar tissue from your retina during this surgery.

Call Retina Consultants Ltd. or make an appointment online today if you have any symptoms of vitreomacular traction.