What is the Weiss ring?
A Weiss ring is a much larger, ring-shaped floater that is created by a posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) from around the optic nerve head. In other words, this is when the vitreous tissue detaches from the retina.
Does Weiss ring mean PVD is complete?
When a PVD is “complete,” the examiner will classically observe a Weiss ring on exam (Figure 2). A “Weiss ring” is the circular peripapillary attachment that is visible within the vitreous after it has become detached from the optic nerve head.
What does a Weiss ring look like to the patient?
They may appear like cobwebs, dust, or a swarm of insects—or in the shape of a circle or oval, called a Weiss ring.
What is a symptomatic PVD?
The symptoms of PVD are: Floaters: People say they look like bugs, cobwebs, hairs or dust floating in the field of vision. They’re sometimes shaped like a circle or oval, called a Weiss ring. Flashes of light: People with PVD report seeing streaks of light, usually at the side of their vision.
Will Weiss ring floater go away?
“In many cases, floaters associated with a posterior vitreous detachment become less noticeable or more tolerable over time, and can even disappear entirely,” says Dr. Heier. I’m still waiting for my Weiss ring floater to disappear. If it doesn’t, I’ll live with it.
How do you get rid of a Weiss ring?
A study published July 20, 2017, in JAMA Ophthalmology suggests that blasting Weiss ring floaters with a laser treatment called YAG vitreolysis may hold promise as a way to get rid of them. The procedure vaporizes floaters by heating them.
Why is it called a Weiss ring?
As we age, the process of vitreous liquefaction starts a breakdown in the collagen molecules causing those fibrous structures to clump into networks. The resulting process, PVD, is often marked by fibroglial tissue that’s left free-floating over the optic nerve, called a Weiss ring.
Can dehydration cause vitreous detachment?
“For instance, the majority of retinal detachment cases happen during the summer. Severe dehydration may cause a contraction of the vitreous.
What is metamorphopsia of the eye?
Metamorphopsia is a visual defect that causes linear objects, such as lines on a grid, to look curvy or rounded. It’s caused by problems with the eye’s retina, and, in particular, the macula.
What causes Photopsia?
Vitreous shrinkage or liquefaction, which are the most common causes of photopsia, cause a pull in vitreoretinal attachments, irritating the retina and causing it to discharge electrical impulses. These impulses are interpreted by the brain as flashes.
What is Shafer’s sign and what does it mean?
Shafer’s Sign Also called “tobacco dust,” Shafer’s sign refers to the presence of a collection of brown pigmented cells in the anterior vitreous following a PVD.
When to use Shafer’s sign for retinal detachment?
The use of Shafer’s sign may be of great benefit in these circumstances to allow identification of those patients who should be referred on an emergency basis for more expert retinal examination and appropriate treatment.
What does Shafer’s sign on a PVD mean?
Also called “tobacco dust,” Shafer’s sign refers to the presence of a collection of brown pigmented cells in the anterior vitreous following a PVD.
How many eyes are affected by Shafer positive?
Out of the total 200 eyes, retinal tear was present in 17 eyes, retinal hole in eight eyes and lattice degeneration in seven eyes. All 23 patients who were Shafer positive had an associated retinal tear or hole and symptom duration was grouped as follows: 2 days or less six eyes, 1 week or less five eyes, 1 week to 1 month 12 eyes.