Posterior vitreous detachment in diabetic subjects.

Posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) and vitreous synchysis were studied in autopsied diabetic subjects and compared with general autopsy population. PVD was significantly more common in diabetics, including eyes with no retinopathy. Synchysis in diabetics increased with age and with PVD, but was less than in non-diabetics for given age and PVD status. We conclude that synchysis contributes to the precocious and exaggerated PVD in diabetics, but other factors are operative.