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Constant fear of retinal detachment
Dear Doctors
I am a 24 years old male from China with -6.50D high myopia. Around 2-3 months ago, I developed these floaters in my eyes. There are quite some of them.
Right eye: one made up of a lot of dots, one like a straight line.
Left eye: one rests in the bottom only appear when I look up or move eyes fast, one like a curve with knot, and also one made up with dots/bubbles.
I was so seriously terrified when I had the symptoms. I rushed to several eye specialists since then. Two of them are retinal specialists who are reputed professors in a top medical school of the country.
Professor 1 said that that my retina is healthy, no holes, no tear, no degeneration, no PVD yet and that I should avoid rigorous sports.
Profess 2 said that he would not say my retina is like those 'normal' people and he noticed a small area of degeneration in the upper right side of my right peripheral retina, but there is nothing to worry about at the moment. He did not specify the type of degeneration but on his notes he wrote 'area of degeneration (white light)'. I assume that this is not lattice as it would be quite serious. And he agreed that I could take on any sports but should be careful to protect my eyes and that all I need to do is to live my life normally just like the time when the floaters have not yet appeared.
In China, due to the low patient/doctor rate, we don't usually have the contact of the doctors as they are very busy. If we have questions, we need to go to the hospitals and see the doctor in person. So I think I would post here to address some of my concerns:
1. The two professors do have some different opinions. Is it normal for two specialists to disagree on each other on this matter? Which one should I believe?
2. What is the degeneration Professor 2 mentioned? Is it likely to be white without pressure?
3. I am still in constant fear that I might have RD at some point of my life. As I am only 24, I have a lot at stake and I don't want to take the risk of losing my degree and maybe future job just because of RD. What else should I be careful about? Now I don't even move my head fast or turn my head to the sides fast or do anything that involves fast head movement like dancing or running. Am I being too cautious? What should I do or not do?
4. Is my chance to keep my good vision (although with glasses on) high as I grow older although I have this degree of high myopia?
Thank you so much!
James from China
I am a 24 years old male from China with -6.50D high myopia. Around 2-3 months ago, I developed these floaters in my eyes. There are quite some of them.
Right eye: one made up of a lot of dots, one like a straight line.
Left eye: one rests in the bottom only appear when I look up or move eyes fast, one like a curve with knot, and also one made up with dots/bubbles.
I was so seriously terrified when I had the symptoms. I rushed to several eye specialists since then. Two of them are retinal specialists who are reputed professors in a top medical school of the country.
Professor 1 said that that my retina is healthy, no holes, no tear, no degeneration, no PVD yet and that I should avoid rigorous sports.
Profess 2 said that he would not say my retina is like those 'normal' people and he noticed a small area of degeneration in the upper right side of my right peripheral retina, but there is nothing to worry about at the moment. He did not specify the type of degeneration but on his notes he wrote 'area of degeneration (white light)'. I assume that this is not lattice as it would be quite serious. And he agreed that I could take on any sports but should be careful to protect my eyes and that all I need to do is to live my life normally just like the time when the floaters have not yet appeared.
In China, due to the low patient/doctor rate, we don't usually have the contact of the doctors as they are very busy. If we have questions, we need to go to the hospitals and see the doctor in person. So I think I would post here to address some of my concerns:
1. The two professors do have some different opinions. Is it normal for two specialists to disagree on each other on this matter? Which one should I believe?
2. What is the degeneration Professor 2 mentioned? Is it likely to be white without pressure?
3. I am still in constant fear that I might have RD at some point of my life. As I am only 24, I have a lot at stake and I don't want to take the risk of losing my degree and maybe future job just because of RD. What else should I be careful about? Now I don't even move my head fast or turn my head to the sides fast or do anything that involves fast head movement like dancing or running. Am I being too cautious? What should I do or not do?
4. Is my chance to keep my good vision (although with glasses on) high as I grow older although I have this degree of high myopia?
Thank you so much!
James from China
1. I don't think there is much disagreement between the two doctors. None found holes, tears, severe lattice or anything that require treatment. Nor would I be worried about the one doctor using the word 'degeneration" even if it was a small area of lattice degeneration that's not bad. I have lattice in both eyes and I'm only a -2.50 myope. There is also 'peripheral degeneration" which is totally insignificant. So I think that 98% they agree.
2. White with pressure and white without pressure are not really diseases but just the appearance of the retina with light on it. It's really so harmless I often don't even put it in the chart. Not to worry
3. You need to work on your anxiety. RD is relatively rare in the general population maybe one in 10,000 in high myopes of your degree maybe one in 5000. You will not detach your retina by head movements. Might be a good idea to avoid contact sports. If you must wear good head and eye protection for soccer, basketball, baseball, hockey, etc. NEVER boxing or wrestling Avoid amusement rides that jerk the head about violently.
4 Your chances of retaining good vision all your life is excellent and not worth the anxiety you are expending. Live a healthy lifestyle: don't smoke if you use alcohol use in moderation, don't do dangerous drugs such as cocaine, opioids, eat a good diet, protect your eye from injury and excess sunlight, see an ophthalmologist yearly.
2. White with pressure and white without pressure are not really diseases but just the appearance of the retina with light on it. It's really so harmless I often don't even put it in the chart. Not to worry
3. You need to work on your anxiety. RD is relatively rare in the general population maybe one in 10,000 in high myopes of your degree maybe one in 5000. You will not detach your retina by head movements. Might be a good idea to avoid contact sports. If you must wear good head and eye protection for soccer, basketball, baseball, hockey, etc. NEVER boxing or wrestling Avoid amusement rides that jerk the head about violently.
4 Your chances of retaining good vision all your life is excellent and not worth the anxiety you are expending. Live a healthy lifestyle: don't smoke if you use alcohol use in moderation, don't do dangerous drugs such as cocaine, opioids, eat a good diet, protect your eye from injury and excess sunlight, see an ophthalmologist yearly.
4 Comments
Thank you Dr Hagan for the kind and patient reply!
So, to my understanding, normal daily life activities do not increase my risk of RD. Is that right?
So, to my understanding, normal daily life activities do not increase my risk of RD. Is that right?
Correct.
Dear Doctor Hagan
I am thinking about going to the gym and begin doing some weightlifting. Do you think it is ok for me to go based on the conditions as above? My last examination as I mentioned in this post was about three months ago and there has not been a change. Should I go to the doctor again to check before I start the gym? Thank you very much!
I am thinking about going to the gym and begin doing some weightlifting. Do you think it is ok for me to go based on the conditions as above? My last examination as I mentioned in this post was about three months ago and there has not been a change. Should I go to the doctor again to check before I start the gym? Thank you very much!
You will need to ask your eye MD ophthalmologist about that. If you are doing light weights its likely your Eye MD will let you do them but I cannot give you an okay as I can't see into your eye
I mean hight patient/doctor rate, as we have a lot of people in China but not enough doctors. Sorry for the typo.
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