Physiology of Vitreous and Vitreomacular Interface and Age-Related Changes

Vitreous is an important ocular structure in normal physiology and pathologic conditions of the posterior segment. Vitreous is a gel-like composite structure and forms extracellular matrix which occupies the biggest space in eye. Healthy vitreous gel reduces oxygen tension and protects vitreous, retina and lens from oxidative damage. Vitreous plays an important role in the refraction of eye, preserving the transparency with regular interaction of the macromolecules contained therein. Vitreous suffer from continuous physical tension and this results in important changes. Particularly age-related degeneration in the structure of the vitreous gel leads to a decrease in vitreoretinal adhesion. As part of natural aging, posterior vitreous detachment process may become pathologic when the vitreoretinal interface weakens simultaneously with vitreous liquefaction. On this process, vision- threatening diseases such as vitreomacular adhesion, vitreomacular traction and macula hole may appearic approaches, as well as the clinical features, of these optic nerve diseases, with consideration given to the presence of DM.