Seeing Eye To Eye

Blog from London/Euretina Meeting

Written By: Nancy Holekamp | June 6, 2011

“Euretina” represents the European Society of Retina Specialists. Over 3,000 retina specialists from predominantly Europe but all over the world are meeting in London this week. The conference center is in the shadow of Parliament and Westminster Abbey. I was asked to participate in an international research symposium on the vitreous gel, the clear jelly inside the eye that occupies the large space within the eye behind the lens. Most people, including many vitreoretinal surgeons, consider the vitreous gel as unimportant. A small group of us researchers from around the world believe otherwise. In fact, I was asked to speak at this symposium because the research team at Washington University with whom I collaborate recently discovered that the vitreous gel metabolizes oxygen and protects the eye from oxidative damage. We all live in 21% oxygen and we are all slowly oxidizing all the time. The vitreous gel protects the inside of the eye from oxidation, and protects us from age-related cataract and some forms of glaucoma. Thus, the vitreous gel may represent more than meets the eye!