Behind the lens, the eye is filled with a clear jelly-like material called the vitreous. When the eye is young, the vitreous is firm (like “Jell-o”) and clear (nearly invisible). The vitreous is attached to the retina and the optic nerve. Over time, as the eye ages, the jelly-like vitreous becomes thinner and pockets of liquid form inside it, much like the consistency of egg-whites. At the same time, bits of protein debris form in the vitreous and can float around inside the eye. These aging-related changes in the vitreous can cast shadows on the back of the eye and cause the eye to see what is commonly referred to as “floaters”. Sometimes, the vitreous becomes so liquefied that is separates from the retina altogether: a condition known as a vitreous detachment. For more information on conditions of the vitreous, please refer to the sections below.