The vitreous plays an important role in the pathogenesis of several vitreoretinal diseases. The physiological molecular and structural modifications of the vitreous gel lead to liquefaction and posterior vitreous detachment, which positively influence the vision of patients with diabetic retinopathy, maculopathies and vasculopathies. This review article will approach the concept of pharmacological vitreolysis that refers to the use of different agents, which modify the molecular vitreous organization, in order to reduce or eliminate its role in the genesis of several vitreoretinal diseases, having a posterior vitreous detachment as its final goal. In the last decade, several agents have been extensively studied but there are some limitations in their clinical applicability. We will discuss such agents and their effects on different sites of the vitreoretinal extracellular matrix and vitreoretinal interface.
Vitrectomy; Vitreous detachment; Vitreous body; Extracellular matrix; Retinal diseases