Persistent Hyperplastic Primary Vitreous (PHPV)

Stephany Harris

What is PHPV ? : A congenital condition, the space at the back of the eye, behind the lens, is normally filled with a clear jelly. This jelly is called the vitreous. Children with PHPV are born with a hazy, scarred vitreous. The hazy vitreous blocks the light passing to the back of the eye.

This leads to blurred vision. It is often seen in combination with other syndromes. The syndrome has been renamed recently as persistent fetal vasculature.

Causes: Most cases occur by chance although some cases are known to run in families. This disease seems to be a mistake that just happens while some babies are growing inside their mothers, doctors do not know why some people have it.

Symptoms & Characteristics: Usually the condition only affects one eye. The first primary vitreous that grows in the eye fails to become clear. It grows too much hyperplastic and becomes hazy and scarred. Usually it would disappear and become clear but instead it stays and persists.

Blurred vison, painful red eye, nystagmus, squint, or white pupil are some of the symptoms.

Part of the eye affected: Vitreous

PHPV can lead to other eye problems developing: Cataract from the hazy lens, Retinal detachment from the retina, Glaucoma from the pressure, and Microphthalmia from the eye’s decrease in size. Treatment: Depends on whether both eyes are affected or not and what other eye conditions develop. Lensectomy with or without anterior or total vitrectomy, and trabeculectomy are generally the procedures that are performed depending on the clinical presentation. The retinal detachment can be repaired. Attempts at early surgical rehabilitation prior to 77 days may have better visual outcome. Sometimes wearing glasses or a contact lens can improve the appearance.

Sources: file:///Users/steph/Desktop/Ocular%20Pathology:%20Persistent%20Hyperplastic

%20Primary%20Vitreous%20(PHPV).webarchive file:///Users/steph/Desktop/Persistent%20Hyperplastic%20Primary%20Vitreous

%20(PHPV).webarchive http://www.csbcde.ca.gov/Documents/Causes%20of%20Visual

%20Impairment/causes_phpv.htm http://www.fevr.net/About%20FEVR/persistent_hyperplastic_primary.htm http://www.geocities.com/phpv_2000/