NR667 FNP Capstone Practicum & Intensive Exit Practice Exam

Vitreous detachment happens when the gel-like vitreous body loosens its attachment to the retina and pulls away, a process that becomes more likely with age but can be accelerated by disorders that weaken collagen in ocular tissues. In connective tissue diseases like Ehlers-Danlos, the collagen defects lead to fragile, abnormal connective tissues throughout the body, including the sclera and the vitreoretinal interface. This makes the vitreous matrix less stable and its adhesion to the retina weaker, promoting early or spontaneous vitreous degeneration and detachment, sometimes with an increased risk of retinal tears or detachment.

Marfan syndrome can affect the eye too, but its hallmark is lens subluxation and high myopia with retinal detachment risk largely through different pathways, not as a primary association with vitreous detachment. Diabetes mellitus can lead to vitreous changes and tractional issues, but the classic link to a vitreous detachment from a connective tissue disorder point is stronger with Ehlers-Danlos. Scleroderma mainly involves skin and scleral changes and does not have a well-established direct association with posterior vitreous detachment.