Question
Hello,
I recently went to an Ophthalmologist for a check-up. This Dr. was also my father's Dr. and my father blamed him unjustly for his vision problems. I went to him purposely to show my faith in him, but he treated me horribly. He did test my eyes. When he was finished he told the nurse to note in my chart that the jell in my eyes had hardened. He then proceeded to leave the room. I asked him what it meant and he continued out the door. I asked the nurse what it meant and she only said it was something that shouldn't happen at my age. I need to know what it means. Could you tell me? I am 61. It is believed that I have MS, but not diagnosed positively.
Thank You,
Terri
Answer
Hi Terri,
Sorry about your experience. I would suggest you see an optometrist for a more personal and informative exam. Sadly one of the usual and stereotypical differences between the OD and the MD is the time and attention given. I do not think you should worry. The gel of the eye, called the vitreous humor, goes through typical changes as we age. It starts off clear and homogeneous like new jello. It ends up lumpy and watery with strands and clumps. It is the source of floaters which also are of no concern. The only usual event, 50% of eyes by age 60 and increasing to essentially 100% when old, is called a posterior vitreous detachment, when the gel collapses onto itself sort of peeling away from the retina where it was attached. It can cause more floaters that stay and also an episode of flashes. When it happens, the retina needs to be checked to make sure it survived the event without a tear or hole. Anyway, I've not heard the gel referred to as hardened, so forget it. The lens inside our eye 'hardens' with age, but no one called the lens 'gel'. The lens hardens and becomes less and less flexible causing the loss of auto-focusing so that explains reading glasses and bifocals. But that is normal and of no concern too. Don't worry, just find another eye doctor.
Regards,
Mitch Axelrod, OD
