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Abstract #25254 Published in IGR 12-1
The Vitreous Gel: More than Meets the Eye
Holekamp N MAmerican Journal of Ophthalmology 2010; 149: 32-36
Purpose: To reexamine the role of the vitreous gel in ocular health and disease based on recent information in the ophthalmic literature. Design: Perspective. Methods: Review, analysis, and discussion of the implications of selected pertinent literature. Results: A new understanding of the vitreous gel is emerging, placing it central to many disease processes affecting the eye, including diabetic retinopathy, retinal vein occlusion, age-related macular degeneration, nuclear sclerotic cataract, and primary open-angle glaucoma. The vitreous gel recently has been found to have the important function of oxygen regulation and distribution within the eye. As the gel undergoes age-related liquefaction or surgical removal this function is impaired. The resultant elevated intraocular oxygen tension likely proves beneficial for vascular endothelial growth factor-mediated retinal diseases. However, it may lead to oxidative stress within the eye and may contribute to disease states such as nuclear cataract and primary open-angle glaucoma. Conclusions: An intact gel vitreous is central to a healthy human eye. We now understand that age-related liquefaction of the vitreous gel accompanies several age-related ocular diseases. The field of ophthalmology would benefit from future research to understand age-related vitreous liquefaction and to identify its cause.
N.M. Holekamp. Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, Barnes Retina Institute, St Louis, MO, United States. nholekamp@gmail.com
Classification:
2.11 Vitreous body (Part of: 2 Anatomical structures in glaucoma)
1.3 Pathogenesis (Part of: 1 General aspects)
