The vitreous body of the eye is normally pressed up against the retina wall. Retinal tears can occur when the size vitreous body of the eye decreases with age. A small piece of the retina can come off with it, creating a tear in the retina. Retinal tears need to be dealt with urgently to prevent vitreous fluid escaping from the eye. This fluid can cause the vitreous body to come away from the retina, known as a retinal detachment which can cause vision loss.