[citation needed] If a retinal vessel is torn, the leakage of blood into the vitreous cavity is often perceived as a "shower" of floaters.

[citation needed] A Weiss ring can sometimes be seen with ophthalmoscopy as very strong indicator that vitreous detachment has occurred.

Age and refractive error play a role in determining the onset of PVD in a healthy person.

Several studies have found a broad range of incidence of PVD, from 20% of autopsy cases to 57% in a more elderly population of patients (average age was 83.4 years).

Even so, it is of increasing interest because the interaction between the vitreous body and the retina might play a decisive role in the development of major pathologic vitreoretinal conditions, such as epiretinal membrane.

If there are only small point tears, these can allow glial cells to enter the vitreous humor and proliferate to create a thin epiretinal membrane that distorts vision.

In more severe cases, vitreous fluid may seep under the tear, separating the retina from the back of the eye, creating a retinal detachment.

[6] Therapy is not required or indicated in posterior vitreous detachment, unless there are associated retinal tears, which need to be repaired.