Vitreous humor

Definition

Vitreous humor is the clear, gel-like substance that fills the space between the lens and the retina in the eye. It plays a crucial role in maintaining the eye's shape and providing support to the retina, which is essential for proper vision. The vitreous humor also helps to transmit light to the retina and acts as a shock absorber to protect delicate structures within the eye.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The vitreous humor accounts for about 80% of the eye's volume and helps maintain its spherical shape.
2. It is composed mainly of water (about 98%), collagen fibers, and hyaluronic acid, which give it its gel-like consistency.
3. The vitreous humor is avascular, meaning it does not contain blood vessels, which is important for preventing obstructions to light reaching the retina.
4. As people age, the vitreous humor can undergo changes, leading to conditions like vitreous detachment, which may result in floaters or flashes of light in vision.
5. The vitreous humor is crucial during embryonic development, as it provides a supportive environment for developing retinal cells.

Review Questions

• What role does vitreous humor play in maintaining eye health and function?
  • Vitreous humor plays a vital role in maintaining eye health by filling the space between the lens and retina, providing structural support to these components. It helps maintain intraocular pressure, ensuring that the eye retains its shape. Additionally, by allowing light to pass through unobstructed, it facilitates clear vision and serves as a shock absorber to protect delicate internal structures from trauma.
• Compare and contrast vitreous humor with aqueous humor regarding their composition and functions in the eye.
  • Vitreous humor and aqueous humor are both crucial fluids in the eye but differ significantly in composition and function. Vitreous humor is a gel-like substance primarily composed of water, collagen fibers, and hyaluronic acid, providing structural support within the eye. In contrast, aqueous humor is a watery fluid that fills the space between the cornea and lens, nourishing these structures and helping maintain intraocular pressure. While vitreous humor helps stabilize shape and protect retinal health, aqueous humor plays a more active role in metabolic functions within the anterior chamber.
• Evaluate how changes in vitreous humor with aging can impact vision and overall eye health.
  • As individuals age, changes in vitreous humor can lead to issues such as vitreous detachment, where the gel-like substance shrinks and pulls away from the retina. This condition can cause symptoms like floaters or flashes of light, which can be distracting or concerning. Additionally, if the vitreous pulls on or tears the retina, it can lead to serious complications such as retinal detachment, potentially resulting in permanent vision loss. Understanding these age-related changes underscores the importance of regular eye examinations to monitor eye health over time.

Related terms

Aqueous humor:

Aqueous humor is the clear fluid that fills the space between the cornea and the lens, providing nutrients and maintaining intraocular pressure.

Retina:

The retina is the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye that converts light into neural signals, which are sent to the brain for visual recognition.

Ciliary body: The ciliary body is a structure in the eye that produces aqueous humor and controls the shape of the lens for focusing.