Vitreous detachment and exercise

[Pboyys]

I was just diagnosed with this (I had the floaters and also some flashing lines).  Dr. said the retina and everything looked good and it was a very normal PVD situation and to come back for a followup in 4-6 weeks.  He gave me all the info on the subject and I've read up on it myself.

However, the subject of exercise or general physical activity seems to be rather inconsistent.  My Dr. told me to "tone down" my routines, but he didn't get real specific, other than to say golf was ok.  He just said to tone it down (but not to eliminate activity all together), at least until I see him in 4-6 weeks, but again, nothing real specific.

Info from doctors on the web seem varied.  Some say, do what you want.  Other say don't do anything.  Others are sort of in between.

So I thought I'd get an opinion here as well, since doctor's here seem to give more detail then some others on other sites.

Much thanks.

[indo_usa]

It's been a while since your previous posting. How's your eyes doing ? I'm just curious if you have any treatment or hopefully you feel much better now ?
Could you please share your experience.
Thanks

[indo_usa]

I read yr reply regarding vitreous detachment. I just thought I ask you for more info on the PVD and my eye problem. I was recently diagnosed with PVD and at the same time I have allergies.

On my first visit to the Ophthalmologist in April and follow up about 10 days later, I was told I was OK.

Then 2 weeks later, sometimes in May 2010 I accidentaly poked my eye with newspaper when I pulled it out of my mailbox. I scratched my cornea and was treated with antibiotic and softlense bandage. That day my eye was teary, I felt nausea, dizzy and feel sick, just because of I had scratched cornea.

It's now about 3 months since my visit to the eye MD, from time to time I feel like there's something in my eyes. I believe the allergy season has passed. The Patanol eye drops sometimes help but sometimes it doesn't. I also use an eye wash solution, thinking that it would clean my eyeball from the dirt, pollen or dust. Sometimes it help, sometimes it doesn't.

Does PVD also caused a sense of a dirt on my eye ?
Does the floaters on eye with PVD usually is a form of black or grey spots or sometimes is causing blurry vision too ?

Is it OK to lift baggage or some heavy stuff ? Or this could possibly make PVD eye worse?
A friend of mine had retinal detachment and had warned me to be carefull with my activities, as I could possibly speed up the retinal detachment in the future.

I appreciate your help with your expertize. Thank you

[Ray T Oyakawa, MD]

I believe the running was not related to the detachment in my eye.  You can do what you doctor allows you to do.

Dr. O.

[Ne55an]

I was diagnosed with PVD 3 days ago. My GF and I are going overseas on a holiday in 2 weeks and my question is how soon after the even can one engage in sexual activity

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

I answered your other posting.

[Pboyys]

Thank you again for your prompt replies.

Would you agree with my doctor that playing golf is ok, even though the detachment is still not complete?

Based on your own personal experience, I'm assuming you would not recommend running right away, but what about a stationary bike?

Thanks again.

[Ray T Oyakawa, MD]

The RD is related to the PVD.  As the vitreous detaches it can create a tear where the retina is weak and there is a strong attachment of the vitreous to the retina.   Think of peeling a piece of scotch tape from wall paper.  If there is a strong attachment the the wall paper is weak, it will tear a "hole" in it.   Most retinal detachment will occur within the first month and most within 3 months.  In almost 30 years of practice I only had one patient detach after 3 months--7months after the PVD.

I have patient where the viterous has not complete detached in over a year and they continue to have flashes.

Dr.O.

[Pboyys]

Thank you Dr. O for your answer.  I understand you cannot give me a definite answer.  After reading so many different doctor's opinions, I could tell there was no one answer.  But just so I understand what you've related.

In your personal experience, you actually suffered from an RD after you had a PVD.  You continued to run after the PVD and then suffered the RD, but I assume you cannot definitively relate the RD to the PVD?

Also for your patients and the many RD repairs you did, though none of them were related to exercise, would you know if any had PVDs first?

As I understand it, even after my 4-6 week followup, it's possible the vitreous may not have naturally detached yet.  I am fairly active (especially a golfer) and cannot see doing nothing for possibly weeks or months waiting for it to detach, thus my questions (which I will also relate to my doctor when I see him in 4-6 weeks).

Thanks again.

[Ray T Oyakawa, MD]

I do not know the answer.  The vitreous has to finishing detaching from the retina.  If it get "stuck" and the retina is "weak" at the spot a tear can occur.  No one knows if exercise can accelerate the vitreous detachment safely or cause more problems.  I have repairs over 1000 retinal detachments and have never seen an association with exercise.  I have seen many associated with trauma--some very mild as hitting your head against a cabinet, getting poked in the eye, and falling on your rear end from a ladder, etc.  

I am a retinal specialist and I had an RD after a PVD.  I continued my routine of running about 80 to 100 miles per month and six weeks after the onset of a PVD had a retinal detachment.

No literature on the your question.

Dr. O.