Can deep tissue massage cause vitreal detachment?

I had an extremely hard therapeutic massage in which the therapist pressed his elbow into the place where my neck meets my shoulders, and the sides of my face were pushed very hard against the "doughnut" part of the table. As soon as I arrived home I began seeing laser pointer type flashes and a huge floater that moves like a windshield wiper across my right eye. My ophthalmologist examined/dilated the affected eye twice and said I have vitreal detachment. Could the massage have been the trigger for this incident? I am a 51 year old woman and in great health otherwise.This is distressing because the floater makes it more difficult for me to do my writing/editing job.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

The PVD and floaters are much more likely due to being 51 than the massage. The only way that might be a factor if the eyes were massaged heavily thru the closed lids.

JCH MD