Posterior Vitreous Detachment

This is the pulling away of the central gel ball of the eye from the outer retina

It is normal for the central part of the eye to become less gel like and more watery over time

As water pockets form, fibers inside the gel will stick to each other and form shapes which can be seen as floaters (dark patterns which move or swim around in your visual field)

Sometimes the fibers will pull on the retina, which will cause you to see lightning (or spots of light)

This can cause retina damage if the fibers stick too tightly when they pull away from the retina

PVD has a 10% chance of developing a retinal tear which will require a visit to a retina specialist

Your medical insurance will pay for the visit and any necessary treatments