PVD, flashes, exercise, doctor's orders...so confused!

[Bambesi]

Thank you to all the doctors who participate in this forum.  Please know you are doing something so important that really touches the lives of others by making your expertise available to those of us who are just panicking - like me.  I am a 48 year old woman.  PVD diagnosed two weeks ago.  Floaters and some light flashes at that time.  Flashes subsided (but have since come back).  I saw a retina specialist who explained my risk for retina tear and detachment and said I am at highest risk for the first three months.  I asked if I could run which I do every day and he said that he tells his patients to live their lives, that I am at high risk anyway whether I run or not.  I don't like the sound of that.  Plus at the time I saw him I was not having flashes and now I am so I made the (very hard) decision to curtail the running.  I tried the elliptical machine and noticed the flashes were back after that.  Even walking on the treadmill and light weight lifting is scaring the hell out of me.  I live in small town and my retina doctor is 2 1/2 hours away.  I doubt there is anyone in this town that I would trust with my retinas.

I am not sure if this has happened naturally or maybe from trauma.  I had no trauma to my head other than (and this bothers me because I don't know whether to continue this in the future) I had Dysport (botox) injections done in my forward and right above my eyebrows the very day the big floaters and the showering floaters began.  The injection above the left eye (the eye with the PVD) hurt like hell, more so than any of the other injections. I don't think the actual Dysport caused the PVD but could that injection have been the trauma that caused it?  I also had some lasering done and they taped my eyes closed for that.  But it was so lightly done I can't imagine that causing it.  I am near-sighted but not that near sighted... I think my prescription is probably mid range or maybe even light.  Do I stop botox in the future?  I would die if I knew I was causing this PVD by something I did!

How do people live with this panic and fear that they are going to get a retina tear or detachment?  How am I going to live with this fear every day for months and months until I assume the vitreous will come off totally? And how am I going to get through months and months without any cardio or weight lifting?  This is just awful.  I could just exercise and watch for the symptoms of a retinal tear yes I know. But if I get those symptoms, I have to find someone who will drive me 2 hours away and I fear that I won't be able to reach my boyfriend in time to get me and drive the 2 hours and I will go blind.

My doctor said the first three months I am at most risk - what changes after that three months?  Is that just the time it takes for most of the vitreous to come off the retina?  Oh my, this is just so life altering I dont' know what to do.

[Ray T Oyakawa, MD]

Your retinal doctor is correct.  Just live your life.  This is not related to the Botox.

Dr. O.

[Bambesi]

Thank you for posting.  I want to just live my life but I am so scared of getting a retinal tear now and going blind in that eye.  I figure that the flashes mean the vitreous is really pulling on the retina and that if I do ANYTHING like run or jog, it will make it tug more and rip it or detach it.  I just don't know how people deal with this constant worry.  Is that the case?  Thank you so much.

[PsychotherapistPB]

I am a qualified full time psychotherapist and I have been diagnosed with PVD in one eye. Apparently 75% or some surgeons tell me 90% of people get PVD eventually in life and its more common in women and in the right eye over 65 but happens to people in e.g their 40's and 50's too,.

From what I have read and been told by doctors so far, most people's PVD settles down eventually. It is a feature of the ageing process.

I found it is more noticeable in very bright light or a darkened room.

The RNIB produce a good booklet and after reading it today I am LESS WORRIED. I suggest reading it if you have not already done so.

Yes if your symptoms change go immediately to get it checked because there is no way you can tell if it is just part of the PVD or something which needs intervention. Again as you might already know, I gather if you see a, for example, curtain effect or have any missing spots of sections in your vision these are especially important to act upon.

However, as there is, from all that I have read, no evidence that taking any particular action will reduce or increase your risk of a retinal tear or detachment then the answer is to live your life as in coping with any other fear. But I would personally not go bungy jumping or do anything very vigorous such as very fast head movements.

There are some great techniques for tackling stress and anxiety.

After all will worrying help you at all? In fact it can make you ill and even raise your blood pressure in some cases.

A purpose of worry is to find a solution. As there is no solution for PVD then you could for example replace your worry with gratitude for other things.

I suggest if you are not already doing so to start keeping a gratitude diary daily of at least 3 things.

Penelope Bould 07831 50 55 16